Court indicts man for raping daughter

CEBU, Philippines - A 41-year-old man is facing charges before the court for allegedly raping his daughter.

 Prosecutor Misty Leah Escolar-Hupp found probable cause to indict the accused, a resident of Cebu City, for rape.

 “In this case, there is probable cause to indict respondent for the crime of rape. His own daughter has categorically narrated how he abused her sexually on 20 December 2014, at around 1 p.m.,” the resolution read.

 Hupp recommended no bail against the accused.

 The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the parties due to the nature of the case.

 The 17-year-old girl accused that her father raped several times from September 2014 to December 20, 2014.

 On December 20, after having lunch with her father and her three younger siblings, the accused reportedly asked her to go with him to gather some firewood in the property of his uncle.

 While she was gathering a pile of firewood, she said she was confused after she saw her father cleaning up a grassy area.

 “I was confused seeing him cleaning the grassy area. He called me up and mandated me to lie down. He told me to undress and he undressed himself as well,” the sworn statement read.

 The minor begged but her father ignored her pleas and sexually abused her. She said he threatened her not to tell anyone.

The mother of the victim is working in Kuwait.

Because she could no longer bear the repeated sexual abuses by her father, she decided to work as a house helper in Mandaue City.

 On January 2, 2015, she decided to disclose to her aunt her ordeals in the hands of her father.

 Together with her aunt, they went to the Mabolo Police Station and reported the incident.

 The minor said it took her some time to report the incident because she feared her father.

 Hupp summoned the accused to file his counter-affidavit but he failed present any. Thus, she elevated the case before the court.

 “The rape was carried out with grave abuse of authority…respondent clearly exercised over his own daughter. Complainant narrated how she feared what her father might do to her and to her younger siblings should she tell anybody about the sexual abuses committed on her by her own father,” the resolution read, adding the narration of the complainant coincides with the findings of the physician. — (FREEMAN)