Charges eyed vs witness protector

The Office of Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office recommended yesterday the filing of charges against a security officer of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP) for raping a witness in a murder case.

Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Mercedes Penamora recommended the filing of rape and attempted rape charges against Jerry Lintan, alias Rustom Yap, 30, after the Assistant Prosecutor’s Office found probable cause during the preliminary investigation that the respondent might be guilty of the both charges.

The case was raffled to the sala of Quezon City RTC Judge Ma. Teresa Yadao of Branch 81.

The complainant, who applied to be placed under the WPP after she witnessed her father’s brutal slaying in Calasiao, Pangasinan in 2000.

She was at a safehouse in Cubao, Quezon City when the alleged rape took place.

Court records showed that on March 26, the complainant was about to wash her daughter’s feeding bottle when she was suddenly punched by Lintan. The security officer twisted her arms before dragging her inside a room of the safehouse.

Once inside the room, the complainant was pushed to the bed. The respondent covered her mouth with a pillow and raped her.

The victim claimed she was not able to seek assistance because the security officer threatened to kill her and her family.

Lintan attempted to rape her again last March 28, but the victim who was able to grab a kitchen knife stopped the attack.

In his counter-affidavit, Lintan denied the allegations against him, saying no rape incident occurred on March 26 at the Cubao safehouse.

He said the victim’s statements are full of inconsistencies, claiming the complainant wanted to get back at him because he was not able to help her get an extension of her coverage under the WPP.