Travel ban sought vs mayor in rape

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines—A Zambales prosecutor has sought a hold departure order against San Marcelino Mayor Jose Rodriguez, who is facing a child abuse case for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl last year.

Joy Bayona, associate provincial prosecutor, filed an urgent motion for the issuance of a hold departure order against Rodriguez to prevent him from leaving the country and ensure that he would face the charges filed against him. She noted Rodriguez’s apparent disinterest in attending court hearings.

“In order not to frustrate the ends of justice, as when accused might seek refuge in another country to escape prosecution in these cases, considering his financial capacity, position, resources and connections, it is imperative that a hold departure order be issued,” Bayona said in a motion filed at the Regional Trial Court here.

California dinner

A source from the court, who asked not to identified for lack of authority to speak to reporters, said the motion was filed this week when the prosecution learned that Rodriguez is scheduled to attend a dinner and dance event in California on May 28.

“A group, called San Marcelino Zambales International, invited him to attend [the event] as a guest speaker,” the source said.

“In April, Rodriguez chose to attend an event in Boracay instead of appearing before the court,” the source added.

In January, Rodriguez was arraigned in the sala of Judge Richard Paradeza of RTC Branch 72 and pleaded innocent to violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Act (Republic Act No. 7610).

Bayona filed an amended charge against Rodriguez after Paradeza dismissed the trafficking charges under Section 4 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9208) against him. In her amended charge, Bayona cited Section 11 of RA 9208 for “use of trafficked persons.”

Rodriguez had posted bail. In an earlier statement, he denied the charges and said the case filed by the girl and her mother was “a classic paragon of character assassination with the end view of causing political turmoil in the locality.”

‘On the road’

Rodriguez, in his counteraffidavit, said he was “on the road, traveling to Manila” on the day he supposedly raped the girl on Sept. 12 last year.

Bayona also sued Jonie Ponce, also known as “Jodie,” for bringing the girl to the mayor’s rest house in San Marcelino where the alleged rape took place. Ponce is facing charges for violating RA 9208 and RA 7610.

Maria Rosario Cesa, Rodriguez’s counsel, said the mayor will answer the motion filed by Bayona. Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon