Two face child abuse raps in court

CEBU, Philippines - Two men were indicted by the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for child abuse.

The accused included a 51-year-old grandfather who allegedly molested his granddaughter.

Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas held the grandfather for trial after finding probable cause against him.

The accused, whose name withheld by The FREEMAN to protect the identity of the victim, allegedly grabbed her 15-year-old granddaughter and touched her private part.

It happened on July 1 at 5 p.m. while the victim was tending their sari-sari store. The victim was assisted by her uncle after she reported the incident to him.

The prosecutor’s office recommended P200,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused.

 Meanwhile, a 41-year-old man was indicted before the court for sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl.

The respondent, whose identity is also withheld by The FREEMAN, is from Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro has found probable cause to elevate the case in court against the accused.

The accused allegedly went inside the room of the minor and started molesting her while the child was sleeping in their house around 4:20 a.m. on January 2, 2015.

 The minor said she continued sleeping, thinking it was her father. She was awakened when her grandfather shouted that there was a thief in the house.

 When she woke up, her father was not around. She went out of their room towards her grandfather.

 She reportedly saw her grandfather together with her uncles bringing rock and wood outside their house.

She also saw the accused who was in his boxer shorts and was carrying a shirt. The minor said that they looked like they were fighting.

 The victim said she was told by her grandfather that the man they were fighting with was the one who molested her while she was asleep.

The prosecutor’s office recommended P170,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused. —(FREEMAN)