FIRST DIVISION [ G.R. No. 208835, January 19, 2018 ] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, V. NOEL BEJIM Y ROMERO, ACCUSED-APPELLANT. DECISION DEL CASTILLO, J.: This is an appeal from the September 25, 2012 Decision[1] of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 05010 affirming with modification the December 9, 2010 Consolidated Judgment[2] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 9, La Trinidad, Benguet, finding appellant Noel Bejim y Romero guilty of seven counts of rape. Factual Antecedents On February 19, 2007, appellant was charged before the RTC of La Trinidad, Benguet, with seven counts of statutory rape under seven separate Informations, viz.: Criminal Case No. 07-CR-6765 That sometime in the first week of October, 2001, x x x Province of Benguet, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge of "AAA,"[3] a minor being six (6) years and eleven (11) months of age at the time of the commission of the crime, to her damage and prejudice. CONTRARY TO LAW.[4] Criminal Case No. 07-CR-6766 That sometime in the second week of October, 2001, x x x Province of Benguet, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously haw carnal knowledge of "AAA," a minor being six (6) years and eleven (11) months of age at the time of the commission of the crime, to her damage and prejudice.

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