Rape suspect charged in court

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted a man accused of raping a third year medical technology student in one of the universities in Cebu last month.

Assistant city prosecutor Ernesto Narido Jr. has elevated before the Regional Trial Court the criminal complaint for rape against Dexter Paalisbo after finding probable cause. Narido has recommended P40,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

A medical technology student accused Paalisbo and two others, Darwin Barbosa and Antonio Molina, of raping her inside a bunkhouse in their university.

The complaints for Barbosa and Molina remain under evaluation at the prosecutor’s office. Narido said it will be filed separately as soon as the procedural requirements are complied with considering that the two other suspects were not arrested.

Paalisbo denied the complaint saying he and his friends were just voyeurs. According to Paalisbo, they just watched the complainant and her boyfriend in their intimate moments inside the bunkhouse.

He admitted having a drinking session with the complainant and her boyfriend prior to the alleged rape. However, Paalisbo said the complainant and her boyfriend left them.

Believing that the two will be doing something else inside the bunkhouse, they decided to follow them. 

Paalisbo theorizes that the complaint was filed to save face because the complainant was embarrassed that her “intimate yet inappropriate sexual encounter with her boyfriend” was witnessed by them.

The prosecutor, however, said that this will be best tackled in court.

 “Moreover, the defense of respondent is evidentiary in nature that cannot be considered in this proceeding. It needs an exhaustive inquiry, such can only be done in court to be given faith and credit,” the prosecutor’s resolution reads.– (FREEMAN)