Brave 10-year Old Girl Wins Conviction Against Rapist
September 9, 2019 ·
Brave 10-year Old Girl Wins Conviction Against Rapist
By Francis B. Bermido Jr.
Judge Gemma Theresa B. Hilario-Logronio of the Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Olongapo City, in a decision dated 2 September 2019, found Zaldy Valdez guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced him to suffer the penalty of two reclusion perpetua and ordered him to pay the child victim P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages and P75,000 as exemplary damages.
In 2017, the Preda Foundation received through Messenger a report of child abuse in the town of Castillejos. According to him, a 10-year old child, call her Grace, had been repeatedly sexually abused by a distant relative and was suspected to be pregnant already. The Preda social worker immediately informed the local social worker of Castillejos and together they visited the child at her school. In the principal’s office, the social workers talked with one of Grace’s friends who said she noticed that Grace was in pain whenever she was peeing. Asked if she had been raped, Grace said Zaldy Valdez raped her twice. She did not report the incidents to anyone because he threatened to kill her and her grandparents if she would tell the authorities.
Grace was then put in the protective custody of the Preda Foundation. At Preda, she was welcomed by the staff and other children. She was enrolled in special education classes as she was diagnosed with slight mental delay and she participated in the various therapeutic social activities. She joined in emotional release therapy sessions that empowered her to tell her story and testify in court.
When called to the witness stand for the first time, Grace cried for she felt fear and anger at Zaldy Valdez, her abuser. Despite that, she was able to tell the court everything that Zaldy Valdez did to her and even demonstrated using anatomically-correct male adult and female child dolls how Zaldy valdez, with his shorts and brief removed, went on top of her and raped her. This convinced the judge that Grace was telling the truth.
In her decision, Judge Hilario-Logronio said that “since rape is a crime that is almost always committed in isolation. . ., for as long as the victim’s testimony is logical, credible, consistent and convincing, the accused may be convicted solely on the basis thereof.”
Grace is now reintegrated to her grandmother. Informed by the Preda social worker that her abuser had been convicted, she said she is very happy that justice had been done. Preda will extend aftercare assistance to her to ensure that she continues her formal schooling.
