Woman drops rape charges vs soldiers in Masbate
MANILA, Philippines—A 21-year-old woman who accused Army soldiers of gang rape withdrew the charges she filed before a Masbate court, Philippine Army spokesman a military spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said Friday.
Cabunoc, citing a report of Lieutenant Colonel Jun Pacatan, commanding officer of the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion, said the woman dropped the rape charges by executing an affidavit of desistance on Monday.
Lawyer Richard Riveral, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Masbate, was present during the signing of the affidavit, he said.
“The affidavit states that that allegation that she was raped or sexually abused by the respondents on January 30 and February 2 inside the military camp located in Puro village, Milagros town is not true,” said Cabunoc, quoting Pacatan.
Pacatan said that the alleged rape victim “followed her conscience and voluntarily withdrew the charges” against the soldier who invited her inside the military camp.
“The woman said that her accusations were not true, and that in the interest of justice, she prayed for the dismissal of the complaint,” added Pacatan.
Cabunoc said that that the woman went to a drinking spree with the soldiers, who are her friends, inside the camp on January 30.
Her soldier-friends allowed her inside the camp premises of Bravo Company at 9th IB in Puro village, without the knowledge of their officers and senior enlisted men, he said.
The woman returned in the same camp on February 2 where she was again welcomed by one of the soldiers who accompanied her strolling in the nearby village of Calachuche. The investigation conducted by the 9th Infantry Battalion disclosed that, “there were no indications of commotion or noises” during the time that the woman was inside camp.
The investigating body was also wondering why the woman returned to the camp on February 2 if she was indeed raped by the soldiers three days earlier. She never complained to the military authorities about the alleged rape, he said.
Meanwhile, despite the withdrawal of the case, the soldiers will face administrative cases for “secretly allowing a civilian inside the camp for a drinking session,” according to Pacatan.
“I have relieved all the soldiers from their posts, including their Company Commander and the First Sergeant. The six soldiers are now facing charges filed before the Army’s Provost Marshall Office in 9ID headquarters,” he said.
