She tracked down her rapist after 12-year wait for justice

With the help of her family and some sleuthing of her own, a rape victim’s persistence finally paid off.

“Len” was 16 years old when sexually abused on March 3, 2001, by Cristobal Enero, who was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 14 years in prison by the Makati Regional Trial Court four years later.

Despite the conviction, Len’s quest for justice was still far from over as the case was elevated to the Court of Appeals. Enero, who was able to post bail during the RTC trial, remained free.

Free, in fact, to find a wife and raise his own family—while Len continued to nurse her deep wounds. “It was a traumatic experience. It really crushed me inside,” she said in an interview with the Inquirer early this week.

According to the victim’s brother, Enero tried to offer money for the case to be dropped during the trial.

“I got my strength from my mother, who never left my side,” Len recalled. Her mom and her three siblings never failed to accompany her to the hearings as though to match Enero’s relatives who also came to court in droves as a show of support.

Seven years after the RTC decision, in a ruling issued on Jan. 25, the Court of Appeals upheld Enero’s guilty verdict.

This time, Len and brother made sure justice would no longer be delayed. They sought the assistance of a friend, SPO4 Joselito Beech of the Makati police, who then approached the warrants section in their behalf to expedite Enero’s arrest.

On Tuesday, the siblings started to do some spying of their own to help the police in tracking down the convict.

They went around on a motorbike to check Enero’s usual routes in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo. They wore helmets, both for safety and to hide their faces from their target.

They took notes and even clocked his movements: At 5:30 p.m., he fetches his young child in school.

Finally, at 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 30 and with a help of a tip from the siblings, a Makati police team caught up with Enero on San Jose Street. The plan for the arrest was almost derailed because the convict took a detour and headed for the market first before going to the school.

Senior Insp. Ferdinand Yap Satorre, the team leader, marvelled at Len’s determination. “Hindi siya nagpatalo (She never conceded defeat),” the officer said.

As for Len, the victim who waited for 12 years for her rapist to land behind bars was just too happy about the outcome: “Now I can breathe easily. Justice was finally served.”