2 men get 80 years for raping minor

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Two men here have been sentenced to 80 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl 14 years ago.

In a decision released on Thursday, Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Raymond Joseph Javier convicted Dante Librando and Winnie Pescador of two counts of rape.

The court also ordered Librando and Pescador  to pay the victim P300,000 as civil indemnity, P300,000 in moral damages and P120,000 in exemplary damages.

The victim said Librando and Pescador took turns raping her at knifepoint at the back of her house in Sitio Pananigbas, Barangay Bago in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

“When the accused pointed the nine-inch knife at the chest of the victim and uttered threats of killing her, accused succeeded in instilling fear in the mind of the former,” the judge said in his ruling.

”Taking into consideration the credible testimonial evidence of the victim...and medical evidence...it is clear to the court that accused committed the felony of rape,  he added.