Tuesday, February 14, 2006 (Philippines)

Lethal injection for two men convicted of robbery with multiple rape: Ronald Gabuya (left) and Ryanneal Giron. A waitress of an ice cream parlor at a mall accused them of robbing and raping her last March 16, 2002. She was walking home from work, along Visitacion St., Cebu City, when the two accused, threatening her with a knife, dragged her to a vacant lot and took turns raping her. RTC Judge Olegario Sarmiento yesterday promulgated the decision. A member of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) denied that politics had something to do with the filing of a rape complaint against the parish priest in Maslog, Danao City. PB Member Agnes Magpale, who heads the committee on women and children, said yesterday that the 18-year-old woman was brought to her office by the dean of her school. She referred her to the Children’s Legal Bureau, Ecpat and the Provincial Women’s Commission. “Padre, niingon baya ang Ginoo nga di ta mamakak and please don’t link this to the landfill because we are considering another place for the landfill (Father, God said that we should not lie),” said Magpale, who represents the fifth district where Danao City belongs. [full story]