Man faces 4 counts of rape for ‘abusing’ 12-year-old girl

Complainant’s cousin and accused’s live-in partner has been charged with violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act

A MAN was charged with four counts of rape for allegedly sexually abusing the 12-yearold relative of his live-in partner several times.

The case was filed in court after Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro found enough evidence to indict Stanley Alegoro Denopol with the accusations.

Castro resolved the cases after the accused failed to submit his counter-affidavit.

Denopol’s live-in partner ( name withheld to protect the identity of the complainant), will also face trial after Castro charged her for violating Republic Act (RA) 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

In her sworn statement, Moda (real name withheld), claimed that her cousin asked her to accompany her to the night market in the first week of June in 2013. The cousin, however, took Moda to a hotel where Denopol was reportedly waiting inside a room.

The cousin left Moda alone, claiming that she would buy some junk food.

“Ako pa gani siya giingnan nga mokuyog ko niya kay gibati man ko og kahadlok (I even told her that I would like to go with her because I was afraid),” said Moda. “Pero wala gyud ko niya gipakuyog (But she refused).”

Denopol then allegedly wanted to have sex with Moda, who resisted.

The cousin returned and the two accused reportedly let the

victim drank beer.

Blanket

The cousin then allegedly had sex with Denopol in the presence of the complainant.

Moda said her cousin told her to watch them, but she covered herself with a blanket.

Two months earlier, Denopol allegedly forced himself on Moda inside a room.

Denopol allegedly raped the victim again on Sept. 28, 2013 and touched her privates on Nov. 24, 2013.

Castro did not recommend bail for the three rape cases against Denopol, while she set the other case at P130,000.

Bail was set at P40,000 for the cousin, who also did not file her counter-affidavit.

RA 7610 defines child abuse as maltreatment of a minor, which includes “psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment,” and “any act by deeds or words that debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being.”

Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353 (the Anti-Rape Law) states statutory rape is also committed even none of the following circumstances happened: “when the offended party is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious” and when the offense is done “through force, threat or intimidation and by means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority.”