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Saturday, September 18, 2004
Twin’s birthday gift: pa’s death sentence
By Grecar Nilles
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IT WAS perhaps the best birthday gift twin sisters Marie and Grace ever received.
Yesterday, the twins’ father Reynaldo Andus was meted to 26 death sentences for raping them on several occasions in 1998.
The twins, who were 17 at that time, celebrated their 24th birthday last Monday.
But for Marie and Grace (not their real names), seeing their father die will not compensate for the pain and emotional torment they suffered.
The twins said they cannot and will not be able to forgive their father for molesting them on numerous occasions sometime in March to April 1998.
“Forgive us for having done this. But we did not make up stories. You yourself is to blame,” said Grace, whom Andus assaulted once.
The sisters hugged each other tight upon hearing the verdict while tears rolled down their cheeks after seeing justice finally served.
Can’t think
Relatives and friends of the twins and members of the Crusade Against Violence applauded Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr.’s decision.
“It’s hard” was all Andus told Sun.Star, as he asked media not to interview him anymore, saying he could not think well at that time.
His lawyer Oliveros Kintanar, who only assumed during yesterday’s promulgation, said they have other evidence to prove Andus’ innocence.
Kintanar and lawyer Ervin Estandarte, who defended Andus in the trial proper, said they found de Gracia’s decision puzzling.
“If he (de Gracia) did not believe in the five counts, why would he believe in the 26 other cases, considering that it was the same testimony, the same witness and the same evidence,” Kintanar said.
Before the proceedings started, Kintanar asked the court to defer the promulgation because they found new evidence to prove Andus’ innocence.
Not the same
But de Gracia, citing Rule 120 and 121 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure, denied Kintanar’s plea, saying the lawyer can either ask for a revision of judgment or a re-trial.
But for Marie and Grace, life will never be the same after what happened to them.
Although they will go on living their respective lives, they said they will not be able to lead normal lives again.
“We know that no man, after knowing what happened to us, will ever accept us anymore. But I’m happy my prayers were answered. I asked for a death sentence,” Marie said.
Grace also lamented that instead of helping them, their half-brothers, who reportedly witnessed what their father did, opted to keep mum.
Fair judgment
“They saw what happened, but someday, I know they will see the truth. He did not treat us as his children,” she said.
Their mother Teresita said she had been praying every day that de Gracia be given the wisdom to render a fair judgment on the case.
“Praise and glory be to Jesus Christ. I want to thank all those who supported and were with us all throughout,” Teresita said.
(September 18, 2004 issue)
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