A nightmarish experience

Lawyers who are in the broadcast media in Cebu are a small community. So it would not surprise me if we started looking at each other the moment reports began to surface about a lawyer-broadcaster who allegedly raped a 13-year- old girl. I certainly did. Remember “who stole the cookie from the cookie jar” of your younger years?

Happily, none of us were the one referred to in the reports. Not that there was any chance that we would be. As far as I know, Ruphil Bañoc, Ely Espinosa and Eddie Barrita neither have the inclination nor the strength for that sort of thing. Besides, in the very remote possibility that we, particularly Eddie, would be minded to do it, if you know what I mean, I’m sure that we could still rely on our innate charm.

Seriously now, this is what I don’t like about suspects (for want of a better word) not being named while their profession or status is mentioned in news stories. Everyone in the group or the profession becomes suspect. If media can wait until the filing of the case, presumably in the prosecutor’s office, to identify the supposed offender, why can’t we exercise the same restraint with respect to his group or occupation? Or even much better, why can’t we wait until then to break the story?

Rape is a very serious offense. A woman’s virtue is millions worthier than any wealth. When the victim is a minor, the offense even more despicable. Society has a right to react harshly. But not judge hastily.

Being accused of committing rape is a nightmarish experience that can have far-reaching implications, even if the claim should later be proven to be untrue. For a professional to whom credibility is his biggest asset, such accusation can signal the death of a career.

I have read the particular lawyer-broadcaster’s post on Facebook, where he asked the public to withhold any judgment on him before they have heard his side which, he said, he will give at the proper time. The appeal is reasonable but I doubt if many will heed it. We are always quick to judge others.

I’m sure he would not have a difficult time trying to punch holes in the story of alleged victim’s mother. The rape was committed inside a car? The car is parked in a street? The street is not an abandoned or isolated one? People pass there? And what about the bite marks ( chikinini) in the victim’s neck, are they consistent with rushed and forced sex?

Of course, the girl is 13. Any sexual contact with her, whether forced or consensual, constitutes rape. But that is precisely the point --sex--and only the girl can testify that it happened, at least with the broadcaster, and she has not spoken. So the circumstantial evidence is important.

Finally, a word on the claim that the accusation against the broadcaster is an attack on the media and the legal profession. Let’s not exaggerate. Look what you have done. The local KBP’s Fr. Bob Ebisa has to issue a statement distancing the organization from you and your station. Sweet.