Man facing raps for abusing child

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly taking advantage of a four-year-old girl, a man is facing a criminal case before the court.

Naga City Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo said based on the evidence at hand, he found probable cause to indict the accused, a 48-year old man who lives in Naga City, for acts of lasciviousness.

“From the foregoing uncontroverted evidence, and finding enough evidence to engender a well-founded belief that the crime of acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act 7610 or child abuse, the corresponding Information be filed against respondent,” the resolution read.

Alburo recommended a P120,000 bail for the accused.

Based on the complaint, the minor alleged that on June 4, 2013 at around 5:40 p.m. while she was in the house of the accused playing with his granddaughter, who is her friend, the latter allegedly took advantage of her.

She alleged that she and her friend were brought to the room of the accused. However, while inside she said the accused directed her friend to get out of the room leaving her alone with the accused.

Therein, she said accused removed her short pants and abused her. She said she put her shorts back on and left the house to go home.

It was only a week later when she narrated to her mother what had been done by their neighbor. She then filed a complaint for statutory rape.

With these allegations, Alburo directed the accused to answer but he failed.

“The respondent was required to submit his counter-affidavit as shown in the subpoena issued to him which was duly received by his wife on June 20, 2013. However, respondent, despite of the lapse of the ten days reglamentary period, he has not submitted his counter-affidavit and that of the affidavits of his witnesses,” the resolution read.

With that, Alburo elevated the case to the court but downgraded it into acts of lasciviousness. —BRP (FREEMAN)