Three soldiers in Lumad girl rape case plead not guilty

From InterAksyon (Nov 9): Three soldiers in Lumad girl rape case plead not guilty

The three soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Lumad girl entered a not-guilty plea before a General Court Martial (GCM) that was convened to hear their case for violation of Articles of War 97, the military said Monday.

The girl was among families of Lumads who sought refuge inside a church compound who fled their homes because of militarization that disturbed the peace in their village.

Captain Rhyan Batchar, public affairs head of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, identified the accused as Private First Class Joffrey L. Galot, PFC Stanly B. Revil and PFC John E. Banilla.

" ... while assigned with 68IB(Infantry Battalion), 2ID (Infantry Division), PA (Philippine Army), 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," the charge reads.

The court martial was led by Lt Col. Pepito B. Lolor with Maj Rick Brian DC Luneza and Maj. May C. Garingarao acting as Trial Judge Advocate/Prosecutor.

The accused had Lt. Col. Joel R. Cabanero and Capt. Bethoven A. Abuzo as counsels.

"During the arraignment of the accused duly assisted by their military defense counsels, they individually entered their not guilty plea," Batchar said.

The pre-trial had the prosecution's first witness, the mother of the victim. Her testimony was finished on the same day.

This was followed by other prosecution witnesses, such as 1st Lt. Eric Sumaliday, Corp. Richard Ladra, PFC Roland Pamposa, Police Officer 1 Princess Tenebro, and Barangay Chairman Pablo Tagnipes.

"But all their testimonies were dispensed with, due to the fact that the purposes of the testimony were already stipulated by the prosecution and the defense," Batchar said.

On November 07, Batchar said the prosecution filed its formal offer of documentary evidence in all of the three cases.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/119941/three-soldiers-in-lumad-girl-rape-case-plead-not-guilty