Two men get death for raping 2 women 40 times

The Regional Trial Court of Makati City sentenced two men to death Friday for the rape of two women in more than 40 occasions early this year.

Judge Roberto Diokno in his 11-page decision found the accused Oliver Arevalo and Herminigildo Organista guilty in 42 and 10 cases of rape, respectively.

Both men were charged with raping two women on several occasions starting on Jan. 23, 2001.

The first complainant claimed that she was approached by Arevalo while she was wandering around Luneta Park in Manila and was offered a job.

Desperate for a job, she went with Arevalo to his house in Makati City where she was subsequently raped.

The victim said that she was raped by Arevalo and Organista along with several other men almost everyday from Jan. 23 to Feb. 14, 2001.

On the same date, Arevalo with his accomplices abducted the second victim somewhere along Manggahan St., Fairview, Quezon City while she was looking for a job.

She was also taken to Arevalo’s house where she was repeatedly raped by several men from then on until Feb. 14.

The two women claimed that Arevalo and Organista regularly invited men to the house and charged each of the visitors P100 for the chance to have sex with them.

On several occasions, the two women were also forced to take drugs and were subjected to various forms of torture while they were being raped.

On Feb. 14, the two suspects went on a drinking spree and fell unconscious, leaving the two victims unattended.

The two women immediately ran out of the house and proceeded to a nearby Iglesia ni Cristo church where they sought the help of Minister Lando Lacanlale. That evening, the two women were brought to the Makati City Police where they formally filed their complaints. – Marvin Sy