Julia Christine Botin

2 PAF personnel who sued major general for rape return to work

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The two Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel who filed rape charges against a or major general have returned to work after taking a mental wellness health break.</p><p>Colonel Ritza Ann Jovellanos, acting chief of the PAF Public Affairs Office, said the personnel were told to take a 10-day break immediately after the alleged sexual assault happened on January 29.</p><p>&quot;The victims were given a mental health break right after nung nangyari. They were offered legal assistance as well as psychological assistance, although they opted to get their private counsel and to be psychologically checked outside. But they are back sa trabaho nila,&quot; Jovellanos told reporters in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;As to the ambiance in the PAF, it is business as usual. It’s an isolated case,&quot; she added. </p><p>&quot;From the get-go, from the start, the personnel are well-trained, indoctrinated on their rights, on their policies. For instance, &#x27;yung R.A. 1313 o Safe Spaces Act natin. So, alam nila yung mga karapatan nila.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/public-service/2025/5/25/teodoro-on-rape-case-vs-air-force-major-general-we-will-not-coddle-anyone-1837">Teodoro on rape case vs Air Force major general: &#x27;We will not coddle anyone’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT HAPPENED</strong><strong> </strong></div><p>CCTV footage obtained by ABS-CBN News showed that around 5:30 a.m. on January 29, a black van arrived at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City.</p><p>On board were PAF personnel returning from a night out.</p><p>Among them was the major general, who had to be assisted by soldiers to his quarters.</p><p>Almost three hours later, another clip showed two male soldiers coming out of the official’s quarters in tears.</p><p>Shortly after, their lieutenant arrived, to whom they reported what had happened.</p><p>The two claimed that the major general took advantage of them.</p><p>The following day, the soldiers filed a complaint with the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).</p><p>“Within the AFP, umusad ang case na ito upon the report na may ganitong nangyari—immediately nag-act po ang Air Force and nagkaroon na po ng request for a general court martial to be conducted,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Castillo said.</p><p>The complainants said in their affidavit that they initially thought the major general was joking when he ordered them to sleep in his quarters.</p><p>This was when the sexual assault allegedly took place.</p><p>“Respondent said the three of them would share the same bed. Afterwards, Respondent started to undress himself and asked the two what they were still doing. *** and *** hesitantly and slowly undress[ed] themselves. *** was still hoping that time that Respondent was only joking,” the complainants said in their affidavit.</p><p>“Respondent touched ***’s penis. He ordered *** to touch ***’s penis and **** him off. Although *** was shocked by what was happening during that time, he just followed Respondent’s orders to appease him,” they added.</p><p>One of the PAF personnel pretended to be asleep but was secretly recording audio and video of the incident.</p><p>The complainants experienced severe trauma and have sought help from lawyers under the Supreme Court’s Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS).</p><p>“My clients were diagnosed with stress disorder and depression. After the incident, they were seen by a psychiatrist. Right now, they are paying for their own therapy sessions para makatulong sa mental health nila,” Atty. Nico Robert Martin told ABS-CBN News in an interview on May 22.</p><p>He went on, “We are very concerned about this. They are diagnosed with this but they are still flying planes in Lipa. We would like to ask for the help of the AFP to better address the situation.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MAJOR GENERAL DENIES ACCUSATIONS</strong></div><p>In his counter-affidavit, the major general denied the allegations.</p><p>He claimed that the two soldiers were strong enough to overpower him.</p><p>He also said that he did not possess any firearm or bladed weapon, and that he did not use force or issue threats.</p><p>“They could have easily left the room, as they had free access to the door, or used force to prevent the unlawful act,” the major general said in his counter-affidavit.</p><p>The military’s OESPA found prima facie evidence to subject the PAF official to a pre-trial investigation.</p><p>According to Padilla, the case is still pending the approval of AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., who will serve as the convening authority for the General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings.</p><p>“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,” the military spokesperson said.</p><p>“For any case, meron tayong case build-up. We are also doing necessary diligence in looking at all the circumstances of the case, but we are prepared naman our team, our investigating team, for the eventual conduct of the investigation,” she continued.</p><p>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).</p><p>The AFP earlier said the senior official was immediately relieved from his post upon the filing of complaints. He is currently placed under house arrest inside a military camp.</p><p>Aside from the administrative charges, the two PAF personnel have also formally filed complaints for rape through sexual assault and attempted rape through sexual assault against the major general before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Lipa City.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JFBKOM7HIY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The complainants said in their affidavit that they initially thought the major general was joking when he ordered them to sleep in his quarters.</p>

The complainants said in their affidavit that they initially thought the major general was joking when he ordered them to sleep in his quarters.