Court finds baker guilty of rape
By Nilda Gallo
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 09:13:00 02/03/2008
A baker was convicted and sentenced to 20 to 40 years in jail for sexually molesting a house helper in 2003 inside a motel in Cebu City.
Ronald Navares was found guilty of rape by Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 23
The court ordered Navares to pay the victim P50,000 as civil indemnity.
The 27-year-old victim testified in court that on Sept. 27, 2003, while she was at the North Bus Terminal trying to catch the last trip to her hometown in San Remegio town, north Cebu, she met Navares, who told her that he had followed her to the terminal.
Navares worked as a baker in one of the establishments in Cebu City where the victim worked as a house helper.
Failing to catch the last trip, she decided to take the early trip the next day.
She said she agreed to dine with Navares near the terminal.
After dinner, the accused told her to stay a little while but she refused and left.
While she was waiting to get a taxi ride, the victim said Navares suddenly appeared and forced her inside a taxi.
She said she tried to escape by wrestling with Navares inside the taxi, but the accused was still able to bring her to a motel.
The victim said she pleaded with the taxi driver to bring her outside but the driver told her it was a personal matter between her and Navares.
Navares then dragged her inside the motel room where she lost consciousness after the baker punched her in the stomach.
When she woke up, the accused had raped her.
Ceferina Navares, mother of the accused, testified that the girl had a relationship with her son.
The mother said the victim had slept in their house in Ronda town, southwest Cebu.
The victim denied Ceferina Navares' allegation.
She admitted having gone to Ronda with friends to attend its fiesta.
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