LAWYER-broadcaster Juril Patiño is facing a criminal case in court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl inside his car in 2017.
Prosecutor Alex Gabud found evidence to charge Patiño with rape before the Regional Trial Court.
"The testimony of the minor victim coupled with the result of her medical examination, which shows positive result of laceration of the hymen, prevails over Juril's," read Gabud's resolution.
Rape is a non-bailable offense.
The case was raffled to Regional Trial Court Branch 20.
The minor was allegedly raped inside the lawyer's car on Zamora St., in Barangay Parian, Cebu City on July 4, 2017.
She was assisted by her parents in executing her complaint-affidavit to support the rape complaint against Patiño.
The girl and her mother reported the incident to the Parian Police Station eight days after the alleged incident because she was afraid.
Patiño has denied the allegations.
In his Facebook post in 2017, Patiño said the charges were not just an attack against him, but against the entire media institution and legal profession.
SunStar Cebu was able to contact Patiño, but he said he will comment on the matter once he arrives in Cebu from Surigao.
He said that he will file a petition for review before the Department of Justice once he receives the resolution. The petition aims to stop the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
“Even if my case is already assigned in the court, it doesn't mean I'm guilty,” Patiño said. (With a report from Justin K. Vestil)