'It's time for Florence to identify attackers'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it is about time that the volunteer nurse raped in South Upi, Maguindanao last Sept. 25 start identifying her attackers.

De Lima said “Florence,” as the victim was called by the media, could also be shown photos of probable suspects to help her in the identification process.

Florence is now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development after she was discharged from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here where she sought treatment for more than 40 days.

Florence suffered paralysis and memory loss as a result of the severe head contusions she sustained in the attack.

But Florence has recovered her cognitive and motor functions following her treatment at the SPMC.

Doctors though cautioned that it would take at least six months to one year for Florence to fully recover her neurological functions.

De Lima instructed the National Bureau of Investigation to start asking Florence about the incident.

At the moment, she said the only documents investigators have on the case are the affidavits that militiaman Melchor Fulgencio signed.

Fulgencio first admitted that he was the one who sexually molested Florence but later on retracted his statement.

“We do not even know which of the two affidavits that Fulgencio signed was true,” De Lima said.

De Lima was supposed to visit Florence at her safehouse here the other night but had to catch a flight back to Manila.