[G.R. No. 185844 : November 23, 2011]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. ARNEL MANJARES, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.:
This is an appeal from the Decision1 dated December 21, 2007 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR.-H.C. No. 02368, entitled People of the Philippines v. Arnel Manjares, which affirmed with modification the Decision2 dated April 6, 2006 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Labo, Camarines Norte, Branch 64, in Criminal Case Nos. 00-0488 to 0495, 00-0497 to 0512, 0571, 0590 and 0653. The trial court found appellant Arnel Manjares guilty beyond reasonable doubt of twenty-seven (27) counts of the crime of rape as defined and penalized under Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act."
