Kin of 15-year-old rape victim cry for justice

"Humihingi lamang po kami ng katarungang tila mailap para sa aming mga maralita (We are appealing for justice that is quite elusive to us poor)."

This was the plea of Modesta Timbang, grandmother of a 15-year-old alleged victim of abduction with rape, to Malabon-Navotas Chief Prosecutor Jorge Catalan Jr.

In her letter to Catalan, Timbang said that in March last year, "kidnapping with rape" charges were filed against suspects Joseph Matorre, Rodolfo Carvajal and Rodelyn Villaruz, with the Navotas prosecutor’s office. But Timbang is now apprehensive, for 10 months had passed, but the case remains to be resolved and the suspects are just roaming around freely.

Natatakot po kami na baka ang aming kahirapan ang dahilan kaya wala pang resolusyon ang aming usaping inihain laban sa mga pinaniniwalaang gumahasa sa aking apo (We are afraid that because of our being poor, the complaint we filed against the suspects in the molestation of my granddaughter, merits no action)," Timbang said.

Timbang also said they were advised that under the Department of Justice’s guideline, the prosecutor handling the case has only 60 to 90 days to resolve the complaint.

Timbang said that aside from being traumatized by her nightmarish experience, her granddaughter is also being subjected to humiliation in their neighborhood, especially by the relatives of the suspects, whom she said are influential people in their area.

Pinagtatawanan at hinahamak po siya sa aming pook. Kami po ay hindi pa lubos na nawawalan ng pag-asa sa pamamagitan ninyo (She [victim] is the butt of jokes and is being humiliated in our neighborhood. But we are not losing hope because of you)," Timbang appealed to Catalan.

Sometime in February last year, Timbang’s 15-year-old granddaughter was reportedly abducted and raped in Navotas.

The suspects had been identified and charges of kidnapping with rape were filed against them in the office of City Prosecutor Leandro Catalo, but the case is yet to be resolved, Timbang said.