Court finds Australian man guilty of rape

AN Australian man who has been in the Philippines since 2011 has been found guilty of raping a Filipina and sentenced to reclusion perpetua by a Bulacan court.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla hailed the conviction of Ronald Ian Cole by Malolos, Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 78 Presiding Judge Golda Pablo-Salamat, who also ordered the Aussie to pay the victim P225,000 in damages.

The victim, who resides at a house owned by the accused in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, alleged that sometime in January 2013, while she was ill, Cole offered her a medicine under the pretense that this would make her better.

However, after taking the pill, she felt very weak, and the accused raped her. The sexual abuse was repeated more than 10 times or, at least, three times a week.

Cole denied all accusations and allegations against him as mere fabrications and delusions due to drug use.

«Rape is a crime that is always committed in isolation or in secret, usually leaving only the victim to testify about the commission of the crime. As such, the accused may be convicted of rape on the basis of the victim's sole testimony provided such testimony is logical, credible, consistent and convincing,» Judge Pablo-Salamat said in the decision.

"[The] complainant sufficiently established the fact of rape and identified the accused as the one who had carnal knowledge with her," she added.

In addition, the judge noted that against the straightforward and categorical testimony of the complainant, Cole only offered denial and was not able to establish any ill motive that could have compelled the victim to falsely accuse him of rape.

Remulla commended Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Dedumo and Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval for successfully prosecuting the case.

«Let's demand accountability for this, more so, from a foreign national who fearlessly defied the very laws of this country,» he said.

«May the victory of this case serve as a deterrent to those who continuously oppress the weak and vulnerable, especially women, for their self-interest,» the Justice secretary added.