Woman "dangles" rape case against former live-in partner

CEBU, Philippines - The father of the five-year-old child who died due to alleged maltreatment committed by his 18-year-old live-in partner received a message through his cellular phone threatening him with a rape case if he pursued the filing of a physical injury case.

Arthur Flores, 31, who went to the city hall yesterday morning with his parents and relatives, told reporters that a day after the burial of his daughter last Monday, he received a message which said that a rape case would be filed against him if he pursued the filing of a physical injury case with homicide against live-in partner Abigail Catindijan.

Flores' child died last July 27 and her death certificate showed that she died due to sepsis and post-traumatic stress disorder secondary to child abuse.

The sender also stated she wouldn't have any hand in anything bad that might happen to him or his mother, Myrna, 58.

"Ipagawas sad na u tnan kwrta ky wlay makatumbas s kwarta ibayad sa rape kundi kinabuhe nimo ky kng wala naka mangambot me ug u mama paapupa s u anakusa 2ga 2ga manka ka," the text message goes.

The text message came from a sender whose cell number is +09331515865, but could not be reached when a reporter tried to dial the number.

Arthur said that a woman called him and told him of lewd things.

She introduced herself as the aunt of Catindijan. He immediately turned the phone off since he was travelling on a jeepney from the Hall of Justice after the filing of charges against his former live-in-partner.

Arthur said the woman defended her niece saying that in the one year that they have been living together, the child was still alive but when her mother took Kate from her custody the child began to get sick.

Catindijan who is seven months pregnant and youngest among three siblings is still at large and is now believed to be hiding somewhere in the north.

As of yesterday, the case that was supposed to be filed against Catindijan was not filed in court after two witnesses refused to sign the affidavit they have executed.

Both PO1 Diana Magbanua of the Women's Desk and Pureza Tabuac of the DSWD said they are yet to convince both witnesses to sign the affidavit so that the case can be filed in the City Prosecutor’s office. - THE FREEMAN