TWO Philippine Air Force (PAF) soldiers who accused a major general of rape have returned to work following a mental health wellness break granted them by their superiors.
Col. Ritza Ann Jovellanos, acting chief of the PAF Public Affairs Office, said the alleged victims of sexual assault were granted a 10-day leave immediately after the incident on January 29.
“The victims were given a mental health break right after the incident. They were offered legal assistance as well as psychological assistance, although they opted to get their private counsel and to be psychologically checked outside (the base). But they are back to their jobs,” Jovellanos told reporters in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.
“As to the ambiance in the PAF, it is business as usual. It’s an isolated case,” she added.
“From the get-go, from the start, the personnel are well-trained, indoctrinated on their rights, on their policies. For instance, R.A. 1313 or Safe Spaces Act, so they knew their rights,” Jovellanos added.
A CCTV footage on Jan. 29 showed a black van arriving at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas at around 5:30 a.m., carrying Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel returning from a night out. Among them was a major general who had to be assisted to his quarters.
Nearly three hours later, two male soldiers were seen leaving the official’s quarters, visibly in tears. They reported to their immediate superior, a lieutenant, that the major general had taken advantage of them. The following day, the soldiers filed a formal complaint with the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“The case moved within the AFP, and there was a request to convene a court martial,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Castillo said.
The OESPA found substantial or prima facie evidence to place the respondent under pre-trial investigation.
According to Castillo, the case is still awaiting the approval of AFP chief for the General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings.
“As to the case, the process is moving forward as it should. It is going to be handled by the book. Due process will be conducted and there will be no shortcuts to this. It will be shielded from any influence, and it is clear that the AFP justice system will prevail accordingly,” Castillo said.
“There was a case build-up. We are also doing necessary diligence in looking at all the circumstances of the case, but we are prepared—our investigating team==for the eventual conduct of the investigation,” she added.
The two-star general will face trial under Articles of War 96 (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman) and 97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline).
According to the AFP, the respondent was relieved of his post following the filing of complaints and is currently under house arrest within a military camp.
In addition to the administrative charges, the complainants have formally lodged criminal charges, accusing respondent of “rape through sexual assault and attempted rape through sexual assault” with the Office of the City Prosecutor in Lipa.
