Woman molested by father since she was 15

CEBU, Philippines - A 19-year-old woman was allegedly molested by her own father since she was 15 years old.

This was discovered when the woman’s employers in Cebu City found out last May 9 that she is pregnant. The woman, a resident of Barangay Mantayupan, Barili town, is working as house help here with her 17-year-old sister.

SPO4 Elsa Albuera, chief of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Barili Police Station, said that the first incident happened in the evening of 2008 and the last time was in April this year.

This is reportedly the reason why the woman left her house last April 23 and decided to work in Cebu City.

Albuera told The FREEMAN that the woman have kept everything to herself because her father allegedly threatened to kill everyone in the family if she would tell anyone what happened.

“Ang revelation sa problema niya didto na sa amo nga six months pregnant diay siya,” Albuera said.

Albuera said it was the woman’s employer who told her 17-year-old sister to call their mother in Barili and to inform her about her sister’s condition. The father reportedly fled right after his wife confronted him about the incidents.

Last may 12, the woman decided to return home and subsequently reported the incident to the police station last May 14.

The Barili police have filed a case of incestuous rape and multiple counts of rape charges in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law against the woman’s father before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The woman is the eldest among six siblings. The mother works as a vegetable vendor while her other siblings are charcoal makers.

Albuera said the father molested the victim each time his wife and other children were away.

The woman is now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7. — Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)