Quadriplegic, female cousin get life for rape

MALOLOS CITY — "Hindi ako makapaniwala (I cannot believe it)."

Thirty-nine-year-old quadriplegic Ronald Quesada is still in disbelief after the regional trial court here sentenced him and a female cousin, Kristin Cardoza-Ocampo, 21, to life imprisonment the other day for the rape of a teenage girl in 2003.

In an 18-page decision, RTC Branch 13 Judge Andres Soriano also ordered the two to pay the victim P50,000.

In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Quesada wondered what happened to his case, insisting that his condition would not allow him to do what he was found guilty of.

As quadriplegic, Quesada cannot move his arms and feet.

His fellow inmates at the Bulacan provincial jail sympathized with Quesada.

They said they have gotten used to acting as the "babysitters" of Quesada, adding that they even have to pull down the zipper of his pants so he could urinate.

Court records show that Quesada, with the help of Ocampo, sexually molested the 17-year-old girl twice in September 2003.

In her testimony, the girl said the molestations happened on the second floor of Quesada’s apartment in Barangay Langka, Meycauayan town.

She said Ocampo invited her to the apartment but poked a knife at her when she got in.

She recalled that Ocampo helped insert Quesada’s penis into her sex organ, and even assisted him in making the pumping motion.

Quesada denied the accusations, saying that he could hardly move around without his wheelchair and that it was impossible for him to go upstairs.

His physical therapist, Melvin Maramot, testified in court about his condition, but the court found him guilty anyway.

"Mag-aapela na lang kami sa higher court (We will just file an appeal with the higher court)," Quesada said.