BATANGAS – A newly-elected Lipa City councilor was charged at the prosecutor's office for allegedly raping a woman town councilor last June in Quezon City.
In an 8-page complaint affidavit filed by lawyers Gally Angeles and Rolito Abing, the 20-year-old victim accused Lipa City councilor Nonato "Patmon" Monfero of allegedly raping her while inside the house of their co-councilor in Xavierville Subdivision last June 28, 2013.
Monfero and the victim were with other Batangas councilors attending the seminar in UP-NCPAG (National College of Public Administration and Governance) in University of the Philippines-Diliman when they decided to sleep over at the house of their co-councilor in XavierVille.
The victim said while she was sleeping inside the guest room, Monfero allegedly entered the room around 6:00 a.m. and got naked before lying on top of her.
She alleged that Monfero rolled up her shirt and kissed her breast while forcibly holding her hands down, and subsequently raped her.
While the suspect was allegedly abusing her, the woman recalled Monfero as allegedly saying, “Gustong-gusto kita, hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko, gigil na gigil ako sa iyo. Iiwan ko asawa ko, bibigyan kita ng bahay, kotse basta pumayag ka lang, its just between you and me. I love you, pumayag ka na.”
Monfero and other Lipa councilors had their oath-taking ceremony in Manila Hotel last June 27 and were scheduled to attend another ceremony with Governor Vilma Santos-Recto the next day, June 28.
The victim was accompanied by women's group Gabriela while she filed her complaint affidavit at the Quezon City Hall of Justice last Wednesday afternoon.
Asked why it took them more than a month to file the case, the victim said, "Matagal na pinag-isipan ng pamilya ko kung itutuloy ang pagsasampa ng kaso dahil malaking tao ang aming kakalabanin. Ginagawa ko ito para sa aking pamilya at para na rin sa ibang babae na nakaranas ng pang-aabuso."
ABS-CBN tried to get Monfero's side but failed.
Monfero is married to a businesswoman who belongs to an influential family in Batangas.