By Ben Arche
Manila Bulletin
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Baganga town in Davao Oriental province sentenced a man to two counts of reclusion perpetua or 80 years of imprisonment for raping his daughter sometime in 2001 and 2003.
Presiding Judge Jose B. Lopez of RTC Branch 7 convicted the accused after the prosecution proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Earlier, the young victim testified that at about 12 noon sometime in 2001 in Boston, Davao Oriental, she was abused byher father in a coconut plantation. She was 11-years-old at the time.
In her testimony, she narrated that she could not resist because her father threatened to kill her mother and other members of their family.
The victim also admitted that she was repeatedly abused by her father but could no longer recall the dates.
The accused, however, denied the accusations of his daughter. He said that although they were staying in the same room, nothing happened between them.
But the court ruled that the complainants’ testimony in open court was candid, straightforward, and honest and she never broke down during the conduct of direct and cross-examinations against her.
The court also ordered the accused to indemnify the victim the amount of P75,000 as moral damages, another P75,000 for civil indemnity, and another P25,000 for each case.
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