Inmate in girl’s assault high on drugs, faces raps

MANILA, Philippines - The inmate who assaulted an eight-year-old girl visiting the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last New Year’s Day tested positive for illegal drug use, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday. 

De Lima said convicted robber Norvin Domingo could have been high on drugs when he attacked and attempted to rape the girl, who was visiting her father at the national penitentiary with her mother and attending a children’s party organized by the Bahala na Gang.

She said she ordered the drug test on Domingo, the result of which was submitted to her by NBP officer-in-charge Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. last Sunday.

De Lima stressed that the development was proof of the continuing presence of illegal drugs inside the NBP.

“Although the latest report I received is that since the (raids) we conducted and continue to conduct beginning Dec. 15, there is now scarcity of (illegal) drugs inside (the NBP),” she told reporters in an ambush interview.

Visitors limited to immediate family

To prevent a repeat of the incident, De Lima said she has ordered a review of the policy allowing visitors for inmates, especially children.

“I told them to allow only the immediate family members – meaning wife, real wife, and children. The cousins and family friends will not be allowed for the meantime because my review of the documents of previous cases where unauthorized women were able to enter the NBP after disguising as cousins of the high-profile inmates,” she said.

Charged

Domingo – who earlier admitted to attacking the girl – was charged with attempted rape, child abuse and slight physical injury before the Muntinlupa City prosecutor’s office yesterday.

The girl told investigators that while they were playing, two or three of them were separated from the other children. She said she was approached by her attacker, who told her he would bring her to the park.

Prison guards found the girl unconscious in the maximum security compound chapel’s restroom, with bruises on her body. There was a length of rope tied around her neck and she was naked from the waist down.

While she had marks on her neck, a medico-legal examination at the NBP Hospital found that the rape was not consummated.

Schwarzkopf said Domingo was put in a cell separate from other inmates while the girl was taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for counseling.