Woman victim in Maguindanao massacre 'raped'

MANILA, Philippines -- One of the women victims in the Maguindanao massacre might have been raped, a medico-legal officer bared today.

Testifying before the Quezon City Regional Trial, Dr. Dean Cabrera, a medico-legal officer based in Camp Crame, said seminal fluid had been traced in the vaginal canal of Rahima Palawan during a genital examination on the victim's cadaver.

Cabrera said he also noted the presence of seminal fluid on the underwear of the victim.

"I can conclude that there is evidence of sexual abuse or contact," he told the court.

He,however, said there was no statement of any eye witness to corroborate the findings to bolster the theory that Palawan was indeed sexually abused.

Cabrera also noted that the external injuries on the hymen, a part of the female genitalia, could not be traced as it has already "disintegrated."

Cabrera conducted the autopsy on Palawan' corpse on Nov. 25,2009 in Coronadal City, two days after the killing of the members of the Mangudadatu convoy.