Two more child abusers convicted

Two more child abusers convicted
Preda News

The decision of Judge Maribel Mariano-Beltran of the Regional Trial Court- Family Court Branch 13 of Iba, Zambales left no shadow of doubt that a heinous crime had been committed against a 10-year-old child when the judge found her biological father guilty of the horrendous crime.

When Crystal was 10 years old, her father took her into a room in their house in San Narciso, Zambales and there he sexually assaulted her. He thought that he could do what he liked to his child having ascendancy over her. The court considered that no parent owns their child and cannot ever use a child with impunity for their sexual satisfaction. Crystal cried after the abuse and told her older brother Emmanuel what had been done to her.

Emmanuel, knowing that a crime had been committed, went to the San Narciso Police on 4 November 2022 and reported the crime. The San Narciso social worker, Antonia de Leon, immediately responded that same day and took Crystal and her two younger brothers into their care to protect them from further abuse by their father.

That same day, November 4, the police arrested the father of Crystal and the next day, November 5, 2022, an inquest was held before the prosecutor in Iba and the case was elevated to the court. The accused was charged with statutory rape before the Regional Trial Court- Family Court Branch 13, Iba, Zambales of Judge Maribel Mariano-Beltran.

The child Crystal was traumatized and emotionally disturbed and the social worker of San Narciso referred her to the Preda Foundation home for abused children. There, she was protected from the relatives of her father who would want to get her and hide her away to stop Crystal from testifying to the abuse done by her father.

Crystal was cared for and empowered through therapy and counseling at the Preda Foundation home for abused children. When the day came for her to testify, she did so with courage and bravely told the judge exactly what was done to her by her father.

Judge Maribel Mariano-Beltran said in her decision that the testimony of Crystal was clear, concise and left no reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the father. On 07 June 2024, the biological father of Crystal was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. There, he will be unable to continue the sexual abuse of his daughter or any other children for that matter.

The other case is that of Maria, a 15-year old child staying with her paternal aunt in their house. One day, when her aunt was out at the market, her husband Mr. Abadam was drinking and he approached Maria. Driven by his sexual desire, he grabbed Maria by the breast and dragged her into the bedroom. There he lay on her and sexually assaulted her. Maria struggled against him and was able to run out of the room and escaped from the house and told her aunt and neighbors.

Maria was brought to the Preda Foundation home for girls to protect her from the influence of Mr. Abadam and his relatives who could have “disappeared” her to stop her from testifying. At Preda, Maria was accepted and given care and treated for the trauma she suffered. She was also given Emotional Release Therapy where she expressed her anger and hurt and pain of being abused.

After preliminary investigation by the prosecutor, the complaint of Maria was referred to the court and Mr. Abadam was arrested and brought to trial before Judge Maribel Mariano-Beltran.

Maria testified clearly and with clarity as the judge later noted and in her decision found Mr. Abadam guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The judge believed the courageous testimony of Maria.

These latest convictions bring to a total of 12 the convictions won by the Preda Foundation children through the courts in 2024. Several of these children are now reintegrated with their supportive families having achieved justice and freedom from their abusers. They are continuing their studies with the assistance of the Preda aftercare program. They are empowered young girls. They will not be traumatized for the rest of their lives but have the satisfaction of having fought and won justice and freedom from their abusers and likely saved other children from being abused.

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