“…it is our role as legislators to make sure that when victims turn to our legal system for redress, justice can and will be served in the fastest, least traumatic and least humiliating manner possible.” – Rep. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – As ”Jasmin” and her mother pursue justice here in Manila, Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) said the accused, Pantabangan Vice Mayor Romeo Borja Jr., is using all means at his disposal to discredit the victim.
“The violence committed against Jasmin (not her real name) clearly shows why amendments on the present anit-rape law should be pushed,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said in a protest action in front of the Department of Justice on June 5, 2012.
Jasmin accused Borja of repeatedly raping her for six times since June 2011 when she was only 17 years old. She added that the official threatened to kill her and her family if she refused to give in to him. The victim is about to give birth to Borja’s child sometime this week or next week.
In a statement, Gabriela said Borja “had gone on a media spree and circulated text and audio communications between him and Jasmin allegedly proving that they had a consensual relationship. He also organized a rally in Pantabangan on May 9, 2012 to explain his side.”
De Jesus said Gabriela Women’s Party filed House Bill 6170 seeking to amend the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. “The amendments that GWP pushed included the redefinition of the term rape, the enumeration of circumstances where there is a presumption of lack of consent, the inclusion of cases where there is non-penile penetration, the repealing of Articles 266-C and 266-D and the specification of aggravating circumstances,” the lawmaker said.
“The moves of the Vice Mayor show how he can use his power to defend himself and to discredit Jasmin,” Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan said, “This is a tactic used to warn his other victims to continue their silence because he is capable of discrediting them with the means at his disposal. There are many victims who are forced to submit to the perpetrator who is a person of authority.”
On June 5, Gabriela expressed their continuing support for Jasmin when they rallied behind her during the first preliminary hearing before the Department of Justice. “Mina,” not her real name, another victim who filed a rape case against Borja back in 2009, also joined them.
Mina is a former helper in the suspect’s household who filed a rape case against him in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, a neighboring city of Pantabangan. She is also a mother of the suspect’s baby. “I am supporting Jasmin in her fight for justice. Like her, I am Vice Mayor Borja’s victim of sexual abuses. He must pay for the crime that he has committed,” she said in a statement.
“Rape destroys a person’s dignity. Victims seeking justice need to muster strength and courage after the violation has been committed and it is our role as legislators to make sure that when victims turn to our legal system for redress, justice can and will be served in the fastest, least traumatic and least humiliating manner possible,” Ilagan said.
Threats
In a report provided by Gabriela, Jasmin said she first met Borja in April 2010 when she joined and won a local beauty pageant. It was the respondent who handed her the trophy. Since then, Jasmin has been receiving text messages from Borja. A week later, the vice mayor expressed his intention to court Jasmin, which she immediately rejected because she knows that Borja is already married.
On June 2011, Jasmin went to her friend’s house, where she was invited for a few drinks. But just after a few shots, she felt dizzy and lost consciousness. She added in her affidavit that she woke up in a room with the respondent pinning her. She was too weak to put up a fight.
After the incident, Jasmin was told not to mention a word to anyone about what happened. Otherwise, something bad would happen to her.
On the same month, Jasmin received another text from Borja, who was inviting to see her again. When she refused, the suspect called her and threatened to spread their pictures via Facebook while they were “having sex.” The victim, threatened and afraid, agreed to be brought to the city hall by Borja’s driver and bodyguard Fritz Taguinin Juan.
“Four more rape incidents took place. During those incidents, a gun was beside them,” the report of Gabriela read.
It was in October 2011 when Jasmin found out that she is pregnant. Upon informing the accused, Borja reportedly told the victim to have the baby aborted. He also offered money, scholarship and a house to Jasmin.
Not the only victims
Jasmin and Mina, according to initial reports gathered by Gabriela, are not the only ones who became victims of the accused. “We are calling out to other victims to stand up and fight. We call on them to accompany us in our fight for justice,” the two victims said in a statement.
“Gabriela’s experience show that rapists in government offices can and will offer bribes, threaten families, destroy reputations and buy out judges. It will be an uphill struggle for Jasmin and Mina but we are ready to support them as well as other victims of rape who are ready to come out and seek justice. We believe Jasmin and Mina’s fight will also serve to empower other women who have fallen victim to the Borjas to come out and seek justice,” De Jesus said.
Rep. Ilagan stated that “The rape and abuse of women in Pantabangan will continue with impunity and women will always live in fear for as long as justice isn’t served. Their assailant, powerful and wealthy as he and his family may be, must be made accountable for this heinous crime. We must continue to rage against rape especially if the accused is a public official who use and abuse their power to inflict violence. ”
“Those who violated the laws must be hold accountable. I went out and filed my case against Vice Mayor Borja to make the people know what happened to me and to pursue justice,” Jasmin said in a statement. 
