WE NEED many more judges who deliver speedy justice to abused children. Judge Gemma Theresa Hilario-Logronio is one of them. In one case, a girl named Diana, now 15, had been groomed by her father since she was 7 to be obedient to, dependent on and frightened of him. As she grew older, she stayed with her aunt and grandparents and avoided him. But he continued to pursue and abuse her.
On June 1, 2024, Diana’s father went to her grandparents’ house and became jealous when he saw her with her boyfriend. He began to curse and beat her. Her grandparents intervened and stopped him. Later, Diana finally admitted that she had been raped and sexually abused since she was 7. The grandparents reported the abuse and a municipal social worker referred Diana to the Preda Foundation’s home for sexually abused children. Her father was arrested and held without bail, facing accusations of raping a minor.
Diana participated in the Preda family life. At the Preda home, she was offered support and friendship with many other abused children. She shared her story and underwent Preda’s emotional release therapy several times. In the home’s therapy room, over several weeks, she cried out all her anger and pain against her father. Diana grew stronger with counseling, emotional support and affirmation. She was healed and became very self-confident and emotionally strong.
She decided to file criminal charges against her father. Assisted by dedicated prosecutor Bernardine Santos, Diana bravely and confidently testified in court. After a relatively speedy trial, her father was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by Judge Hilario-Logronio of three counts of rape by sexual assault and one count of qualified rape of a minor. He was sentenced to eight to 17 years in prison for each count of sexual assault; and life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for qualified rape of a minor. Justice was finally done.
Diana is living with a supportive relative and continuing her education, supported by Preda. She continues to volunteer to speak in Preda’s public seminars. She is also an influential peer counselor, helping other abuse victims. She freed herself of the fear and control of her abusive father and will go on to live a happy and successful life.
This is the ninth successful prosecution and conviction of traffickers and abusers of children referred to Preda in 2025. Last year, Preda children won 27 convictions and their abusers received long prison sentences.
Child sexual abuse is widespread and frequently committed. Researchers say one in every three girls and one in every five boys are victims of a sex crime at least once. These victims are terrified to report the abuse or crime because their abusers threatened them or they are afraid they would not be believed or even accused of lying. Those who hide the abuse and refuse to report it to the authorities become accessories to the crime. Let truth come out and justice be given to all victims of abuse./PN
