Rape trial of priest begins

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – The court hearing of a priest accused of raping a young woman finally started yesterday afternoon in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

Judge Hilarion Clapis of the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 presided over the hearing that was attended by both Fr. Melvin de la Cuesta, the accused priest, and the victim herself.

De la Cuesta, now assigned to the Mt. Diwalwal parish, first did not show up but Clapis ordered that he appear before the court.

The victim, who was 21 years old at the time of the alleged incident, now has one child with her live-in partner. Television reports quoted her as saying that she only wanted justice for her ordeal.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the filing of rape charges against the priest after the prosecutor’s office dismissed the case against him.

Citing Supreme Court jurisprudence, the DOJ said, “Settled is the rule that no woman in her right mind would openly acknowledge the violation of her person and allow the examination of her private parts if she has not been raped.”

Records show that the complainant, a BS Office Administration junior in Nabunturan town, met De la Cuesta when she worked as a part-time clerk at the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish.

On July 23, 2006, the priest allegedly called the victim to tell her to wait for him at the convent. While waiting for him, she fell asleep with one “Nanay Tecing” in the priest’s room.

When De la Cuesta arrived, she recalled that he told her to massage his chest, which she did. But to her surprise, he allegedly unhooked her bra, pulled her skirt and kissed her breast.

The victim said she felt helpless when she was cornered to a wall after pushing herself away from him. She said she tried to resist but the priest was too strong and in due course, allegedly raped her.

In her affidavit, the victim also recounted that De la Cuesta later told her to eat breakfast and go back to the office to deposit money, but she never went back to the office or the convent.

To support her allegations, the victim submitted her medical certificate dated Aug. 2, 2006 indicating that she was allegedly sexually abused and sustained injuries to her genitals.