Local Exec Convicted of Child Abuse
Published in The Dialy Tribute
November 20, 2001
OLONGAPO CITY - After five years of litigation, Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday sentenced a Barangay chairman to a six year prison term for abusing two children during the height of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) protest in 1996.
In a four page resolution, TRC Branch 74 Judge Ramon Caguioa convicted Mercedes Nafarette, chairman of Barangay Baretto, in violating Section 10 Article VI of Republic Act 7610, otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse.
Nafarette was charged of abusing Christopher Acebedo and John Christian Sarmiento after she brought them to the police station .
The children told the court that Nafarette and her companion forcibly pushed inside a jeepney and brought them to the police station in the city hall.
Nafarette reportedly ordered them not to jump from the moving vehicle otherwise "they will be beaten up by the police."
Caguioa said the "star witness for prosecution in this case are of tender years. The witnesses did not see the events that transpired on April 6, 1996 but they were the ones involved in these events."
Caguioa said while Nafarette and several defense witnesses denied the allegations, plain denial from the accused "pales in face of the children's candid narration of the truth."
All the victims were protesting the Apec forum that was held inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as well as the putting of electric poles in front of the PREDA foundation.
John Bayaron
Aslo in Bandera
"Child Protestors win abuse case"
