Another prosecutor inhibits from complaint vs. "relative" of ex- guv

CEBU, Philippines - Another prosecutor has inhibited from the criminal complaint lodged against a “relative” of a former official of the provincial government.

Last July 26, Provincial prosecutor 1 Ferdinand Collantes voluntarily inhibited from the complaint “even if the motion for inhibition that was filed by the counsel of the respondent does not cite any valid grounds to justify his inhibition.”

Collantes said he decided to inhibit from the complaint in order to uphold and preserve the integrity and credibility of the panel of prosecutors investigating the complaint against Charles Edward Regis Ayo.

Ayo, 25, of Mambaling, Cebu City, was accused by a certain Jesha Marie Yap Galvez, 25, of rape and serious illegal detention. Galvez alleged the incident happened last April 26, 2010 in Valladolid, Carcar City.

Provincial Prosecution chief Pepita Jane Petralba approved the inhibition.

The complaint was handled initially by Carcar City Prosecutor Richard Abangan Sr., but he also inhibited from the complaint on account of a motion for inhibition filed against him by the private complainant.

The case was then forwarded to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.

It can be recalled Ayo’s legal counsel, Maria Dolores de la Serna-Unchuan, said Collantes should inhibit from the complaint because he allegedly accommodated the complainant and a member of the Crusade Against Violence into his office before the scheduled clarificatory hearing last July 14, 2010.

Meanwhile, Galvez’ legal counsel, Vicente Fernandez II, said it is most likely that Ayo is a relative of former governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna who was reportedly present during the previous clarificatory hearings of the case.

In his comment on the motion for him to inhibit from the case, Collantes said Galvez had admitted being romantically involved with Ayo, but her will was allegedly degraded when the incident happened. Ayo, for his part, said he and Galvez were sweethearts thus the sex was consensual.

The medico-legal certificate issued by the Women and Children Friendly Center of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center dated April 27, 2010 stipulated that Galvez showed definite evidence of sexual abuse or sexual contact.

Galvez was examined by Dr. Adeline Linawagan.

Linawagan also found that Galvez had multiple physical injuries caused by blunt force by non- accidental means. The complainant sustained confluents abrasion on the right cheek, linear abrasion on the right lateral side of neck, linear abrasion on the anterior part of the neck, confluent abrasion on the right deltoid, linear abrasion on her posterior upper arm, linear abrasion distal third of her right thigh and confluent abrasion on her right knee.

“The evidence on hand has already established probable cause of rape as far as we are concern. We know that there is a lot of pressure just so this case will be dismissed,” Fernandez said. (THE FREEMAN)