Friday, December 28, 2007 8-year-old girl was not raped, doc explains By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
THE City doctor assigned to conduct medico-legal examination refused to confirm that a 66-year-old man raped an eight-year-old girl from Barangay 3, Bacolod recently.
Doctor Eli Cong stressed that based on his interview with the victim, who also refused to be examined; he can conclude that there was no rape happened against the young complainant.
He, however, said if the complainant's claim was true that she was brought by the suspect, Carlos Montessino of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, in his rented room also in Barangay 3, Bacolod, undressed her, and lied on top of her and pointed his "manhood material" at her private part, then it could only be classified as an act of lasciviousness.
Montesino is a pedicab driver. Reports said he pretended as one of the girl's relatives.
Cong explained that since the girl-victim did not specify if there was indeed a penetration, then no rape was consummated.
Cong asked the victim to be examined but the latter refused.
He said he couldn't force the girl as he respects over and above her right to privacy.
Beside, Cong said the girl also insisted that there was no penetration happened.
As to the other allegation that the girl was also raped last June 2007 by the same suspect, Cong said, "It is already impossible to determine the penile intrusion because of the length of time."
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO)-Women's and Children's Desk Head Lailanie Garcia meantime said she will wait first for the final report of the medico legal before rendering any legal action on this particular case.
