Expert: Victim needs help

CEBU, Philippines - A psychologist has recommended an “intensive and holistic” psychological intervention on Emma Nepomuceno, an alleged victim of a cult leader in Balamban who was detained for five years, for showing symptoms that she could be suffering from Stockholm syndrome.

Maryjun Delgado yesterday told the court that Nepomuceno manifested characteristics of the psychological phenomenon in which victims express empathy and sympathy for their captors and have positive feelings for them, sometimes to the extent of defending them.

Delgado was presented as expert witness of the prosecution in the ongoing trial for judicial determination of probable cause in the criminal complaint for serious illegal detention against cult leader Casiano Apduhan Jr. alias Tatay Boy.

“Emma did not miss her family and even took a negative stance for them after rescue. She admitted to constrained relationships in the family and marriage, and made it as her narrow excuse to protect her Tatay Boy. She defied the authorities that rescued her and made it appear that she was traumatized instead during the rescue,” Delgado said.

 Delgado, however, said that the victim was happy for her freedom.

“But her psychological evaluation indicated that she was “happy” for her freedom and yet did not elaborate about it. She only stood outspoken with her defense for the innocence of her Tatay Boy. This situation is common to victim with Stockholm syndrome,” Delgado explained.

 According to Delgado, an intervention is needed for Nepomuceno to go back to reality, dissociate from irrational beliefs, join and bond with her family and be able to integrate normally again with the society.

The process, Delgado said, normally last for two years or more.

During cross examination conducted by defense counsel Danilo Yap, Delgado said the prosecution communicated with her two weeks ago and inquired about Stockholm syndrome and sought her advice.

Delgado said she told them to read through all the documents in order to make a recommendation. She used a scientific method-the profiling and used secondary data-the documents, the affidavit of Nepomuceno, the report of the NBI, affidavit of witnesses Eleuterio Repuela and Retchie Fajardo, the transcript of records from the court and the psychological report of psychologist Rosemarie Gonato.

Initial evaluation report of Gonato revealed that Nepomuceno was fine and yet traumatized from the rescue that happened. She was in so much pain of what her husband did to her when the latter abandoned her. She joined the group of Apduhan and claimed that she was not forced to stay in the villa.

Upon her rescue, the evaluation report stated that she was happy about it but traumatized and that she found freedom but did not elaborate.

 The testimony of Nepomuceno, according to Delgado, shows symptoms of Stockholm syndrome.

 â€œBonds form between victims and abusers result to cognitive dissonance and thus leading the victim to defend their abusers. This phenomenon is found and bound to happen in cases with battered wife syndrome, fraternity hazing, cult membership, incest or rape victims, concentration camps, abusive relationships and illegal detention or hostages,” she explained.

 Cognitive dissonance, according to the report of Delgado, is a psychological experience when a person tends to conform to a situation or command that do not reflect his/her own values and beliefs in life. Choice and decision-making becomes weak and erroneous and it would lead the person to graver confusion.

Delgado enumerated several symptoms of Stockholm like positive feeling by the victim towards abuser; negative feelings of the victim towards his/her own family, friends or authorities who tried to rescue/support him/her; he/she strongly supports the reasons and behaviors of abuser/captor; positive feelings by the abuser towards the victim; supportive behaviors by the victim, and even helping the abuser/captor; and inability to engage in behaviors that may assist in separation or detachment form abuser/captor.

 Yap said the evidence of the prosecution is not an established fact. He believes that their evidence is strong because of the testimony of Nepomuceno herself that was not detained.

Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Hermes Montero has ordered both parties to submit within 10 days their respective memoranda.

Apduhan and his driver Victor Fajardo were arrested by the NBI-7 operatives during a rescue operation on March 26 in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban.  (FREEMAN)