Charges of rape and frustrated murder were filed Thursday against a former militiaman and a still unidentified man in connection with the rape of a volunteer nurse in Maguindanao. This developed even as police authorities are exploring the possibility that Florence (not her real name) may not have been gang-raped as earlier reported. Melchor Fulgencio, a former member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), and a certain “Edwin Doe" were charged by the Maguindanao prosecutor’s office before the Cotabato Regional Trial Court (RTC), according to a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras" by Ian Cruz. This page requires a higher version browser Fulgencio earlier mentioned in his sworn statement a certain Edwin, who he said was the mastermind in the brutal physical and sexual assault on 20-year-old volunteer nurse Florence in South Upi town in Maguindanao on September 25. The former CAFGU however recanted his statement later, saying he was tortured by his neighbors into admitting to the crime.
On Wednesday, the prosecutor’s office cleared six men of involvement in the crime citing lack of sufficient evidence against them. Fulgencio will be transferred to the Maguindanao Provincial Jail as soon as the RTC releases a court order, while the case against him is expected to be raffled off next week. As this developed, authorities are exploring the possibility that Fulgencio may have been the only person who raped and tried to kill Florence. "Possibility lang ito, we're not banking on this theory. There's a probability na solo flight niya lang ito, and probably he's including somebody, itong si Edwin, to lessen his culpability, na yun ang unang pumalo, yun ang unang gumamit sa biktima," said Supt. Jacinto Malinao Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (It’s just a possibility, we’re not banking on this theory. There’s a probability that he went solo flight on this, and probably he’s including somebody, this Edwin, to lessen his culpability, that this guy was the first to maul the victim and rape her.) Assistant provincial prosecutor Cairoden Pangunotan likewise said the police’s theory may be possible. "Pagdating natin sa trial at hindi niya ma-establish ‘yung pagkatao ni Edwin Doe na tinutukoy niya, we can conclude na posibleng solo act ni Fulgencio," Pangunotan said. (If during the trial, he’s unable to establish the identity of the Edwin Doe that he is referring to, we can conclude that the crime may possibly be Fulgencio’s solo act.) South Upi Vice Mayor Jordan Ibrahim, who was invited for questioning by the police for his alleged involvement in the crime, meanwhile still refused to give a specimen sample for forensic investigation. "Nag-rerefuse siya, parang nag-aalangan. Ang sabi niya, ang advise ng lawyer niya ay hindi ka naman suspek so bakit siya magbibigay," said Malinao. (He is refusing, he seems hesitant. He said his lawyer’s advice was, “You’re not a suspect so why should you give a sample.") GMA News was able to Ibrahim over the phone, and he said he will cooperate with the police as long as requests are made through proper channels, since there is nothing directly linking him to the crime. The prosecutor likewise said there is no evidence yet pointing to the vice mayor’s involvement. "Based on evidence presented to our office, wala pa namang isa sa mga testigo na nagbigay ng kusang-loob na salaysay (not one of the witnesses have given voluntary statements) that will point to the name of the vice mayor of South Upi," Pangunotan explained.
Authorities are still awaiting the result of the DNA and forensic tests made on specimen samples taken from the victim, to clarify if Florence was indeed a victim of gang-rape.—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV
