Man faces raps for allegedly raping 17-year-old cousin

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted a 22-year-old man for allegedly raping his 17-year-old cousin at a golf course in Sudlon, Lahug early this year.

Prosecutor Dixon Fuentes elevated the case against the accused in court after he failed to submit his counter affidavit. No bail was set for the accused’ temporary liberty.

In an affidavit, the victim, a resident of Tophill, Sudlon, said the accused had asked to meet her at the golf course around 10:30pm on March 30. He reportedly had problems and wanted to speak with someone.

“That because he is a cousin and a friend to me, without thinking anything against him, I accepted his request and so I went to the said area,” the victim said.

There, the accused reportedly offered her beer and, while they were drinking, the accused started talking about his problems. However, after a few bottles, the accused allegedly started holding her and touching her.

“That after consuming some bottles of beer, I got drunk and the suspect started to hold me and touch me specially the sensitive and private part of my body,” the victim said.

The girl said she tried to stop her cousin, but the accused was too strong and successfully abused her sexually.

Fuentes said that in the absence of controverting evidence, he found probable cause to indict the accused to a formal case of rape.

“Taking into consideration the presumption of regularity in the performance of duty in favor of the government postal employees, it is safe to conclude that at this point of time, the respondent had already received the subpoena but opted to ignore the same,” Fuentes said.

He said the incident traumatized the victim physically, emotionally and psychologically, especially that she had trusted the accused as a cousin and as a friend. - THE FREEMAN