|
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Abused teener raped inside women center
By Annabelle L. Ricalde
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The 19-year-old abused teener thought she was already safe when she sought refuge at the Women Development Center after her employer maltreated her. But she was dead wrong.
Last Saturday, an unidentified suspect managed to enter the City Government-run women center and sexually abused her in one of the rooms there.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The rape elicited uproar among women advocates who said it is not supposed to happen in a center dubbed as the last refuge for abused women and children in the city.
"Victim na sa abuse, nahimo na pud nga rape victim, double jeopardy na hinuon. Nawala na ang main purpose sa center (She is already a victim of abuse. Then becomes a rape victim. That is double jeopardy. The main purpose of the center is lost," Farrah Dongallo of the Abanse Pinay said.
Dongallo and representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs) are demanding a full and transparent investigation on the incident.
The NGOs -- Citizens Watch for Good Governance; Pilipina; Touch Foundation; Gugma sa Kabataan; Mucaard; Kapatiran; Mindanao Youth Volunteer Council -- urged Mayor Constantino Jaraula and City Social Welfare Officer Belen Galdo to take full responsibility and give justice to the victim.
Dongallo said they are demanding a full and transparent investigation and the creation of an impartial investigation body that will include women's organizations and human rights groups.
"It was a betrayal of the hope and refuge for the women victims of abuse," Dongallo said.
The police have already filed a rape case against a certain Renato Sardella, a mason, who resides in Sitio Agong, Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan. The victim identified Sardella as the one who raped her.
According to Inspector Philip Fontillas, chief of the Bulua police station, the incident happened last May 17 at around 1 a.m.
Fontillas said Sardella allegedly entered the women center by forcibly opening the French-type windows.
While inside, Fontillas said the suspect dragged the victim, who was sleeping in one of the rooms, inside a comfort room where he allegedly threatened her.
The suspect fled after raping the victim, police said.
Fontillas said the victim who was accompanied by Canitoan Barangay Chari Marlene Lagumen reported the incident on Sunday several hours after it happened.
The police officer said they immediately went to the women center and after a few hours, received a tip from one of the residents.
Fontillas said they arrested five suspects including Sardellas who was seen drinking at a sari-sari store where the victim bought some things last Saturday night.
But when the victim was called in to identify her attacker, Fontillas said she did not immediately pointed at Sardellas.
But last Monday, Fontillas said the victim told police investigators that it was Sardellas who allegedly molested her.
When pressed why she did not identify Sardellas during the confrontation, Fontillas said the victim told them she got scared.
"The rape case was filed against Sardella who he is at large but anytime he will be arrested as soon as his warrant will come out," Fontillas said.
Fontillas blamed the house parent of the victim for not reporting the incident immediately to the police.
He said the house parent was not even around when Barangay Chair Lagumen accompanied the victim to the police station.
Each of the abused women and children at the women center are assigned with a house parent who will help them overcome the trauma they have undergone. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (June 4, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Arroyo certifies Carp extension bill as urgent