State Prosecutor Ramon Paul Hernando said he recommended no bail on the charges against Today reporter Guillermo "Bong" delos Santos, who was accused of rape by a 25-year-old reporter of Sun Star Manila.
"A careful review of the evidence indubitably points to sufficient evidence that Delos Santos had indeed sexually assaulted the complainant in the manner she described in her complaint," a portion of the four-page resolution read.
Hernando added: "Complainant would not dare expose herself to ridicule and shame, given her profession, unless she is telling the truth. It is settled that such a defense (denial), when placed astride the positive identification and straightforward testimony of the complainant, deserves little weight."
The victim filed the complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation last November, which subsequently filed the charges at the DOJ. The case was initially handled by State Prosecutor Pamela Escobar but was later transferred to the sala of Hernando.
Delos Santos covers the Western Police District, NBI, Manila City Hall and Bureau of Immigration beats while the victim was assigned to monitor and write developments in the Intramuros area, especially the CBCP and the Commission on Elections.
In her three-page sworn affidavit, the victim disclosed she and Pilipino STAR reporter Jhay Mejias (female) were eating in SM Manila on Oct. 27 when Delos Santos arrived and joined them. They then had a drinking spree at H20, also in SM.
Later, the victim said they parted ways with Mejias on Taft Avenue because Mejias resides in Fairview, Quezon City. She said she remained with Delos Santos in the taxi because they were both bound for Pasay City. She then asked that she be dropped off at the Pasay Rotonda.
The victim and the suspect knew each other because the suspect’s girlfriend, Tina Paguirigan of the tabloid Abante, is the bestfriend of the victim and they have been colleagues since their college days.
When the two were in Pasay Rotonda, however, Delos Santos insisted that the victim shouldn’t go home yet to Kalayaan Village because she was tipsy and that she should take some hot coffee.
While she was drinking coffee, Sibayan said, Delos Santos drank more beer in a dimly-lit videoke joint until the wee hours of the morning.
When she told the suspect she had to be home by then, she said Delos Santos hailed a taxicab and directed the driver to bring them to the nearest resting place, which she later on learned was the Winston Lodge.