Investigation continues against three soldiers accused of
raping a 14-year-old lumad girl in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, earlier this
year. The girl ran away from the Haran Compound here and was taken custody by
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The rape suspects were identified as Private First Class
(PFC) Joffrey L. Galot, PFC Stanly B. Revil, and Private John E. Banilla.
In an interview with 10th Infantry Division, Civil Military
Operation Battalion Chief, Lt. Col. Norman Zuniega, it was learned that the
68th Infantry Battalion presented all the gathered evidence before the court
martial, despite the "not guilty" plea of the three accused soldiers.
Zuniega said that the presentation of evidence completed
Tuesday.
“Basically nag conduct pa ng investigation ang battalion
nila 68th IB. Hanggang ngayong araw lang ang court martial, pag aaralan pa nila
ang prinesent na evidence (Basically investigation is still being conducted by
the 68th IB. The court martial is just until today, they will study the
evidence presented),” Zuniega said.
He added that one of the presented evidence was the payment
offered by the accused to the family of the girl.
On September, Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy
Regional Director for Operation Sr. Superintendent Aaron Aquino confirmed that
the soldiers paid P63, 200 to the family of the victim.
Aquino said the amount was a “settlement money in exchange
for the withdrawal of the case”. But Aquino stressed that the Police will
pursue the case despite the withdrawal of the parents.
On November 6, the three soldiers individually pleaded not
guilty.
The mother of the victim was also presented in the court
martial as witness, but her testimony was later terminated.
Aside from the criminal cases that the Police filed against
the soldiers, they are also facing charges for violating the Articles of War 97
under the respective charge and specifications.
The court martial said: “In that xxxxxxx, a person subject
to military law, while assigned with 68IB, 2ID, PA, stationed in the province
of Davao Del Norte, sometime in the period from June 20, 2015 to July 03, 2015,
impelled with lustful desire, willfully and feloniously, by means of force,
violence and intimidation did, then and there, have carnal knowledge with one
Alias Jovie (not her real name), a fourteen year old girl, against her will and
consent which conduct cause and bring discredit upon the military service to the
prejudice of good order and military discipline. CONTRARY TO MILITARY LAW.”
As to the next trial of the soldiers, Zuniega said that it
is “only the general court that can determine”.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=825462
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.