Child Rape suspect arrested in Bataan
June 9, 2022 · By Preda News
Child Rape suspect arrested in Bataan
Preda News
Authorities belonging to Philippine National Police’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3, 305th Maneuver Company led by PLt. Randy N. Pascasio and PSSg Joseph Benjamin M. Filamor, under the supervision of PMaj Ronnel F. Duque, arrested on 8 June 2022 Jomar Miranda Landicho who is facing two charges of rape by sexual assault in relation to Section 5(B) of Republic Act 7610. The complaints were filed by Nicole (not her real name), now 15 years old, who said in her sworn statement that Jomar M. Landicho started raping her when she was only six years old. He is the common-law husband of Nicole’s mother. The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Dorina S. Castro-Baltazar of the Family Court Branch 2 in Balanga City, Bataan.
According to Nicole, the suspect raped and sexually assaulted her since she was six years old whenever she was left alone with him when her mother goes to work. Sometimes, he raped her three times a week. She’s not able to ask for help or tell anyone because Jomar Landicho threatened to kill her and her mother if ever she tells on him. There was a time when Nicole’s mother saw Landicho pulling down his shorts and about to rape her but the mother forgave the suspect and continued to live with him. In another incident, Nicole’s younger brother saw her being raped by Landicho but the younger brother merely left the house and did not report it to anyone.
This is a shocking situation for family members when they see or know about sexual abuse of a child they ignore it and allow it to happen. Many parents and family members refuse to believe a child when she reports abuse and asks for help. This is a crime in itself aiding and abetting child sexual abuse.
It was only in 2021 when Nicole was already 14 years old that she got the courage to escape from home and tell her friends about her being abused by her stepfather. Being her trusted friends, they believed Nicole and helped her get assistance from the local social worker and police. She told the police all that Landicho did to her and also the inaction of her mother that made it possible for Landicho to continuously abuse her for several years.
The local social worker then referred Nicole to the Preda Home for Girls in June 2021 where she’s been staying ever since. At Preda, Nicole received a warm welcome from the trained staff and other children who are also recovering from their own traumatic experiences. She joined the various activities at the Preda home and continued her formal schooling. She participated in the emotional expression therapy where she freely expressed all her pain and anger towards her abuser and mother. After several sessions, Nicole came out a more confident and brave young teenager ready to fight for her rights and future.
Informed about the arrest of her abuser, Nicole said she is happy that her case is moving forward and she is looking forward to the day when she will give her testimony in court.
The Preda Foundation is caring for Nicole and about 50 other children in its home for victim-survivors of abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. There, the children are empowered and become confident and bring their rapists and traffickers to justice. On average, they achieve 15 convictions every year. May justice always prevail and children be respected and protected.
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