MANILA — Australian Ronald Ian Cole was found guilty of raping a Filipina in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua by the Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 78.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said Cole, who has been permanently living in the Philippines since 2011 under a special resident retirement visa, was also ordered by Presiding Judge Golda Pablo-Salamat to pay his victim P225,000 in damages.

According to court records, the complainant alleged that sometime in January 2013, Cole offered her medicine when she got sick.

After taking the pill, she felt her body go numb and weak, and Cole proceeded to rape and abuse her sexually.

The complainant said the rape and abuse happened more than 10 times.

“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,” the court said in the decision.

Cole said all the allegations against him were mere fabrications due to alleged drug use of the victim.

But the court said the complainant sufficiently established the fact of rape.

“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,” the court said. 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commended Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky Dedumo and Assistant State Prosecutor Wendelll 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,” Remulla said in a statement.

2 Grade 8 students raped after accepting social media invite

Quiboloy accuses alleged rape victims of 'Potiphar's wife syndrome'