THE three soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old lumad maiden pleaded not guilty in a general court-martial that was convened to hear their case for violation of Articles of War 97, the military announced Monday.
The girl was among families of lumad that sought refuge inside a church in Davao City after they fled their homes because of militarization in their communities.
Captain Rhyan Batchar, public affairs head of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, identified the accused as Private First Class Joffrey L. Galot, PFC Stanly B. Revil and PFC John E. Banilla.
“In that xxxxxxx, a person subject to military law, while assigned with the 68th [Infantry Battalion], Second Infantry Division… stationed in the province of Davao Del Norte, sometime in the period from June 20, 2015 to July 03, 2015, impelled with lustful desire, willfully and feloniously, by means of force, violence and intimidation did, then and there, have carnal knowledge with one Alias Jovie [not her real name], a 14-year-old girl, against her will and consent which conduct cause and bring discredit upon the military service to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Contrary to military law,” the charge reads.
The court-martial was led by by Lt. Col. Pepito B. Lolor and Major Rick Brian Luñeza with Major May C. Garingarao as acting as trial judge advocate/prosecutor. The accused have Lt. Col. Joel R. Cabañero and Captain Bethoven A. Abuzo as counsel.
“During the arraignment of the accused duly assisted by their military defense counsels, they individually entered their not guilty plea,” Batchar said.
The pre-trial had the prosecution’s first witness, the mother of the victim. Her testimony was terminated on the same day.
This was followed by other prosecution witnesses such as First Lieutenant Eric Sumaliday, Corp. Richard Ladra, PFC Roland Pamposa, Police Officer 1 Princess Tenebro, and Barangay Chairman Pablo Tagnipes.
“But all of them, their testimonies were dispensed due to the fact that the purposes of the testimony were already stipulated by the prosecution and the defense,” Batchar caid.
On Nov. 07, Batchar said the prosecution filed its formal offer of documentary evidence in all of the three cases. The court-martial will resume at 9 a.m. of Nov. 9.
