Woman drops rape case against ship crew

A CEBU City court dismissed the rape charges filed against a ship officer and four crew members who were accused of sexually molesting a 23-year-old woman inside the cabin of a passenger vessel.

Timoteo “Atan” Sampayan, 32, of San Isidro, Northern Samar; Aldin Albarando, 22, of barangay Langub, Argao, Cebu; Layman Deganon, 24, of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte; and Alvin Nalda, 27, of San Miguel, Leyte, were cleared after the complainant backed off from the case.

The woman said there was no rape or sexual abuse that took place and that she was confused at the time when the case was filed against the four men.

“The execution of an affidavit of desistance by the private complainant is a strong indication pointing to the possibility that the charges were motivated by some factors other than the truth as to their commission,” said Judge Estela Alma Singco of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 12.

The woman said it was her boyfriend who prodded her to file charges against the ship crew whom she earlier accused of raping her inside the cabin of a Cebu City-bound vessel last April 7./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL