From GMA News (Dec 1): 16-year-old girl accuses 3 soldiers of gang-rape in Mindoro Occidental
A 16-year-old girl in Mindoro Occidental has accused three soldiers of raping her, a report on “24 Oras” Monday.
The report said the incident happened in May last year after the victim and her mother attended an event at a military base in Paluan town.
The victim's mother, “Aling Ester,” said her daughter went missing during the party and they searched for her for two hours.
It was later learned that a soldier brought the victim, “Siena,” near the sea where she was raped, after which she was brought home where two other soldiers raped her.
"Hinila po siya sa braso, dinala siya sa aplaya [kung saan] isa ang gumamit sa kanya. Tapos dinala po sya sa bahay, tapos yung dalawa naman po [ang gumamit sa kanya]," said Aling Ester in the report.
Aling Ester, who later on arrived at their house, said she found her daughter crying in one corner. She also saw the two soldiers there.
“Tinaas daw po yung kanyang, binuksan daw po yung zipper ng short pants niya at sinandal daw po siya sa dingding ng bahay namin,” she said.
She described the suspects as armed and wearing Army uniforms.
Trauma
After the incident, Siena became introverted, Aling Ester said.
“Hindi na po siya nagsasalita, hindi na po naimik, hindi na marunong maligo, madalang na ring kumain sa isang araw,” she said.
The victim's mother said they didn't report the incident to authorities because the soldiers had threatened them.
Aling Ester said she instead focused her attention on taking care of Siena, who was traumatized by the incident.
File a complaint
The Philippine Army, meanwhile, urged the victim to file a complaint so it could start an investigation.
“Wala kaming ma-find out na information na something like that happened, so we're encouraging na kung may complainant, file a formal complaint on any person of authority so it will be the basis of our investigation,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato in the same “24 Oras” report.
The report said Siena is being assisted in her case by Gabriela party-list, which is advocating women's rights.
According to Gabriela, 30 rape victims by soldiers have already approached them since 2010. On the other hand, another 42 victims said they were raped by policemen.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/390553/news/regions/16-year-old-girl-accuses-3-soldiers-of-gang-rape-in-mindoro-occidental
The involvement of the CPP-affiliated political front, Gabriela party-list, casts a pall of suspicion over the rape allegations made in this article . Although the rape accusation may be true, it must noted that there have been numerous instances in the past where CPP front groups/activists have levied false allegations against Philippine soldiers with the objectives of propagating negative propaganda against the AFP and thereby discrediting the military as an institution.
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