I PREVIOUSLY told you the story of Tessie, a similar story as Areza, made a sex slave by her family, abused continually by her father, brother and their drinking buddies. Her sister was also sexually abused.
Tessie, after years of sexual abuse told a neighbor, kind woman, of her suffering.
Tessie was referred to the Preda home for protection from perhaps the most evil crime of multiple rape ever.
In Emotional Release Therapy, Tessie was healed and empowered like Areza was. Helped by a prosecutor, she bravely filed charges against her abusers.
Together, Tessie and prosecutor Santos won in December 2022 the conviction of her father’s drinking buddy. He was sentenced to life in prison.
On Jan. 23, 2023 she won another victory – the conviction of her father who had raped her many times.
The judge summed it up after a long trial. “The court gave credence to the positive declaration of the minor that she was raped by her father than the mere denial of the accused.”
The rapist father was sentenced to life in prison. Tessie’s sister has also filed a formal complaint against her older brother who raped her several times. We await the outcome.
Another victory celebration is due for 15-year-old Jemmi. She won the conviction of her abuser after a very convincing case strongly fought in court.
The accused got bail and has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeals. He and his family could harass Jemmi. She does not feel full freedom while the convicted abuser is free.
We appeal to the justices in the honorable Court of Appeals to quickly resolve the cases of child abuse to prevent more abuse, so that justice can be done and clearly seen to be done.
In the past weeks, another important first step for justice for Angelica (not her real name) allegedly sexually raped and assaulted by a priest when she was 15, is the resolution of the prosecutor.
The diligent prosecutor resolved a complaint saying there is probable cause that rape was committed 11 times and sexual assault six times in Cagayan.
The resolution also states he violated section 4 of the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act otherwise known as RA 9995 when he made videos taping these sexual encounters.
According to Angelica, he sent Angelica the videos and blackmailed her, threatening to post them online if she told anyone of the abuse and ordered her to submit to his vile lust and crimes.
In his affidavit, the priest admitted the sexual encounters but claimed it was consensual sex yet the prosecutor rejected that claim with forceful legal arguments to the contrary.
Republic Act (RA) No.11648, which does not apply in this case since it was signed into law on March 4, 2022, establishes that a minor below 16 cannot give consent to sexual acts by an older person. The full text of the powerful resolution is on www.preda.org.
Other dedicated prosecutors working with the Preda social workers have recently won convictions for child abuse victims against their abusers.
The successful cooperation between Preda and the Department of Justice prosecutors leads to successful convictions, which are powerful messages of advocacy that child trafficking and sexual abuse bring the severest of penalties to offenders and freedom, vindication and justice for child victims. Report abuse to predainfo@gmail.com. (preda.org)
