Man indicted for ‘sexual acts’ on niece, 15

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor indicted a 45-year-old man for child abuse after he allegedly sexually abused his 15-year-old niece.

Prosecutor Raul Cristoria held the Barangay Lahug resident for trial after finding probable cause for violation of Republic Act 7610 or for child abuse.

The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the victim and the respondent owing to the sensitive nature of the case.

The incident reportedly happened in the afternoon of August 11 this year while the victim was at her grandmother’s house, where the suspect lives.

In her affidavit, the girl said that the suspect, who is the elder brother of her mother, ordered her to fan him, to which she heeded.

The girl and her younger sister were staying at their grandmother’s house to go to school. They have a house in Minglanilla where their parents live.

She allegedly fanned her uncle for two hours until she got tired.

Her uncle then allegedly asked her to go near him and suddenly touched her right thigh. She distanced herself from him, but the latter allegedly unzipped his pants and masturbated.

After the incident, the girl said her uncle instructed her to go to her grandmother and gave her P20.

She went outside and met her sister whom she informed about the incident. Her younger sibling admitted she saw what happened.

They were about to go to their grandmother when they met their neighbor who is a policeman and reported to him the incident.

The victim told the police that she was threatened by her uncle that he would kill her if she would tell anyone about what happened.

Together with the girls, the police officer went to the suspect’s house and arrested him. He was then turned over to Mabolo Police Station.

The girl said it was the first time her uncle did it to her but there were already times before that he would order her to massage him especially near his thighs and in his bed upstairs where there was no light.

The suspect, who is now at the Cebu City Jail, chose not to invoke his right to preliminary investigation; hence his case was elevated to court after the inquest proceedings.

The prosecutor recommended P24,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the suspect.  (FREEMAN)