This, according to Pinol, would erase apprehensions that there would a ‘whitewash’ on the case.
“We know how powerful the perpetrator is. So it’s just but proper that a special team of prosecutors be created to do the investigation,” said Pinol in a press statement.
Pinol’s recommendation is supported by the Municipal Peace and Order Council of the local government of Kabacan.
“I will personally discuss this issue with the DoJ Secretary,” he said.
The vice governor described Montawal as a ‘very powerful’ person who can use his money and guns to ‘silence’ the victim and those handling the case.
The victim and her family had also sought help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in North Cotabato and other law enforcement agencies in the province to secure them from threats and harassment from the suspect.
Montawal, in a radio interview over dxKA in Kabacan, has denied and dismissed as ‘baseless’ the allegations hurled against her by Angelie, the complainant.
“It was she who undressed in front of me. Why would I do such a thing to her if she did not want it?” said the suspect in Filipino.
But Angelie, in her two-page affidavit, said =Montawal told her to take off her clothes at gunpoint. She added the suspect threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate.
On Monday, the Justice for Angelie Movement started the ‘Piso-Piso para kay Angelie’ campaign to fund the legal battle of the rape victim.
Ruby Padilla-Sison, a convener of the group, said that for Angelie to win the ‘battle’, she must have funds to support it, aside from having strength and courage to continue.
“We want justice served for Angelie, that’s why we launched this campaign,” said Sison. (MindaNews)
