An Australian living in the Philippines since 2011 on a special resident retirement visa has been convicted for sexually abusing a Filipina in 2013, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday, April 5.
Convicted by the Malolos City regional trial court (RTC) in Bulacan was Roland Ian Cole who was sentenced to reclusion perpetua (jail term of 40 years) and ordered to pay his victim P225,000 in damages.
A press statement issued by the DOJ stated that the recent decision was handed down by Judge Golda Pablo-Salamat of RTC Branch 78.
The DOJ said that Cole is also facing qualified human trafficking charges before another court.
It said that the complainant, who had resided in Cole's residence in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, testified that she was offered medicine by the Australian when she was not feeling well sometime in January 2013.
“However, after taking the pill, she felt her body got numbed and felt very weak and accused (Cole) proceeded to rape and abuse her sexually which happened more than 10 times at least three times a week,” the DOJ also said in its statement.
In convicting Cole, the DOJ said Judge Salamat ruled:
“Complainant sufficiently established the fact of rape and identified the accused as the one who had carnal knowledge with her.
“Furthermore, against the straightforward and categorical testimony of the complainant, accused only offered bare denial. Accused was not able to establish any ill motive that could have compelled complainant to falsely accuse him of rape.”
Reacting to the conviction, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla 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."
Remulla then congratulated Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Dedumo and Assistant State Prosecutor Wendelll Bendoval for having secured the conviction of the Australian.