Cadiz City fire chief, 7 others charged with rape

The Cadiz City fire marshal and seven firemen found themselves charged with abduction and rape for the five-day abuse of a minor at the Bureau of Fire Protection.

This meant a wipeout of the Cadiz City fire station personnel.

This sensational case interrupted the attention of Negrense voters in the homestretch of the presidential and senatorial campaign. Definitely, people kept talking about it — a 17-year-old household help abducted and gang-raped after she had been forced to drink and take prohibited drugs.

The firemen involved were Senior Inspector Romeo Gigato Jr., Cadiz City fire chief; fire officer Andrew Zamora, and firefighters Alex Villanueva, Roxas Laguara, Rodgelino Canado, Antonio Magracia and two others still unidentified and the subject of a police manhunt. The last two suspects are reportedly casual employees of the Cadiz City government detailed to the BFP station.

Actually, the principal suspect was pinpointed as Villanueva, a volunteer worker of the fire station.

The victim was an employee of Villanueva. She reportedly complained that Villanueva forced her to take drugs and "tuba." He then reportedly inflicted cigarette burns on her right hand and left thigh.

Later, after Villanueva had ravished her, he reportedly brought the minor to the fire station where he turned her over to Gigato. This was after Villanueva had molested her twice at his Barangay Daga residence on April 18.

Gigato reportedly gave Villanueva a sum of money. Then, he also molested the girl. After that, the six others joined the rape from April 18 to 22.

She was kept inside the fire station until midnight of April 22 when a relative, who also works at the fire station, helped her escape. The girl immediately sought the help of the police.

The relative also sought the assistance of the 602nd Regional Mobile Group who arrested the suspects. The girl identified them through their pictures posted at the BFP.

The household help claimed that Villanueva had threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to her family.

The medico-legal examination confirmed the gang-rape.

The suspects have been detained. Charges were filed with the Cadiz prosecutor’s office against the eight, which included the two John Does, according to Inspector Edgardo Ordaniel, the city police chief.

Revulsion over the incident swept the entire province with several women’s groups demanding the immediate prosecution of the suspects.

Troubling Reports

There were troubling signs that the political climate is heating up. The first was reported Friday evening by Dodong Bascon to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This was confirmed by Himamaylan Mayor Carmenchita Bascon who was seated beside GMA. This was the hurling of a molotov cocktail at a van carrying political posters of the city mayor and the K-4 ticket in a Himamaylan barangay. Luckily, no one was injured, according to Bascon.

Wednesday, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon called on the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) not to use firearms to coerce people during the campaign period.

They claim to be non-partisan but, the governor said, he received information that the RPA-ABB was siding with one party in the fifth district.

There were also reports that the former rebels are also operating in remote areas in E.B. Magalona and Talisay City. Lualhati Carapali, national commander of the group, immediately denied that the RPA-ABB is supporting any candidate, especially Talisay City mayoralty bet Ramon Lacson or any other candidate. Neither did he say that they were supporting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He also denied supporting Marañon.

"As a revolutionary armed organization, we have never indulged in a campaign for any candidate," Carapali stressed.

Instead, he claimed having monitored the intimidation of voters in Talisay, Escalante City and Don Salvador Benedicto. He pointed out that it is the New People’s Army that is engaged in extortion and other activities.

Marañon asked OIC provincial police director Mark Edison Belarma to investigate these complaints of alleged coercion by RPA-ABB members.

So far, there have been only persistent reports about the RPA-ABB. The NPA, on the other hand, was also reported to have exacted taxes from political candidates who wish to campaign in areas under its control.

Now, it seems a political candidate must be able to cough up enough funds to campaign in certain areas of the province. A not so very encouraging development.

Peace Pilgrimage

Some 200 participants joined the Pilgrimage for Peace on Panay Island which kicked off from the Central Philippine University in Iloilo.

Rey Jerson Narciso, co-chairman, said the activity will last for four days, ending on the fourth day today with the caravan starting from Antique and going down to Iloilo again.

Taking part in the Pilgrimage for Peace are members of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, CPU, Convention of Baptists’ Ministers’ Association, and the National Coalition of Non-Government and People’s Organizations.

Caravan participants, said Rev. Judson Herbilla, director for missions and evangelization of the CBCP, will pray for a peaceful conduct of the elections. They will also help educate voters on the responsible exercise of their right of suffrage and will bat for clean and honest elections.

Last Monday night, the caravan ended up in Estancia where the participants stayed overnight. On Tuesday, it moved on to Roxas City with stops in the towns of President Roxas, Pilar, Pontevedra and Panay in Capiz.

The caravan then moved on to New Washington, Aklan, with a rally held at the town plaza. Yesterday, the caravan left Aklan and proceeded to Antique, winding its way through the northern towns of the province.

Today, it leaves Culasi for Iloilo City where the caravan ends up at the CPU.

Ateneo De Iloilo

Ilonggo priest Rev. Fr. Provincial Romeo Intengan of the Society of Jesus, will ink the memorandum of agreement with Victor Pison, representing the Kauturan Pison Development Corp. (Kadipeco), and Fr. Manuel Uy Jr., S.J., director of the Ateneo de Iloilo, for the first Ateneo of the Visayas — the Jesuit Santa Maria Catholic School.

The signing of the MOA will take place tomorrow at the office of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, himself a graduate of the Ateneo who topped the Bar exams one year after his graduation.

The Kadipeco will donate 2.5 hectares of the 7.5 hectares of the Ateneo property. About half a hectare will be for the construction of the school church in honor of Donato Pison Sr. and Pacienca Pison.

The Ateneo de Iloilo BOT is composed of Fr. Aniceto Samson, S.J., chairman; Fr. Renesto Javier, S.J., Fr. Uy, Francis Trenas and Generosa Uygongco, members.

The project was approved by Jesuit Father General Peter Hans Kolvenback, S.J., and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.