DAVAO CITY – Progressive group Gabriela said the girl who allegedly “escaped” from the church compound on Thursday was raped by members of the 68th Infantry Battalion in two separate incidents.
Nora Kakay and daughter “Tess”, 14, allegedly escaped from Haran compound on July 23, because they wanted to seek assistance and go home.
Gabriela Davao secretary-general Mary Ann Sapar said “Tess” was raped on May 6 and July 4.
“I was just able to read the fact sheet prepared by the Children’s Rehabilitation Center today and according to the interview, the victim was raped by two soldiers 4 pm of May 6 inside their home in Sitio Laslasakan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod (Davao del Norte),” Sapar said.
Sapar said the perpetrators were identified as “certain Galot and Daniel”. She said the incident was settled in the barangay.
“A separate incident took place last July 4 in a grassy portion near her school in Butay at around 5:40 pm,” she said adding that the perpetrator was identified as “Jr.”
Sapar said the mother also reported that she too was a rape victim.
Sapar said the case was referred to the CRC by Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations.
Rius Valle of CRC said “they belonged to the last batch of evacuees who arrived in Haran, second week of July.”
Army officials on Wednesday denied allegations that the mother and daughter lumads were raped by the military.
During the AFP/PNP press conference,10th Infantry Division spokesperson First Lieutenant Alexandre Cabales said they are denying the allegations “based on available records.”
“Walang kahit anong kaso na pina-file against any military units or sundalo natin alleging this claim. We deny that the girl is a (rape victim) based on available records (There is no one case filed against any military unit or Army soldier alleging this claim),” Cabales said.
“Hindi po siya rape victim at ito po ay claim lamang ng mga grupo apparently para magkaroon ng issue nong lumabas ang batang ito (She is not a rape victim and these claims were only alleged by groups, apparently, to have an issue when this girl escaped),” he said.
Davao City Police Senior Inspector Milgrace Driz also said they have not yet verified if the IP girl was a rape victim.
Police Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino of Police Regional Office XI said “if there is a claim that she was raped, then we will definitely look into this.”
“We’ll investigate, (that’s) the reason why we created SITG (Special Investigation Task Group) Haran,” Aquino said.(With reports from Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
