By: Gerome Dalipe
A FACT-FINDING committee at the Iloilo Capitol has ordered a provincial guard to answer accusations that he sexually assaulted a masseuse last May 25, 2019.
Provincial Legal Officer Manuel Gemarino gave provincial guard Roen Ledesma 10 days to submit his verified answer to the administrative complaint filed against him for disgraceful and immoral conduct.
The 10-day period for Ledesma to answer the charges will lapse on July 1.
Ledesma, of Brgy. Bugnay, Barotac Viejo, has not yet submitted his answer to the complaint as of press time Friday afternoon.
When the period lapses, the four-man probe committee will convene and discuss their next legal action on the complaint, said provincial lawyer Mae Therese Albacete.
Ledesma was accused of raping a masseuse inside the office of Provincial Board member Nielo Tupas.
Police had also filed a rape complaint against Ledesma before the Office of the Iloilo City Prosecutor.
In her judicial affidavit, the 45-year-old complainant said she was attending to her mother at a public hospital when Ledesma called her for a “massage service” last May 25, a Saturday.
Since she also needed money at that time, the victim agreed. Ledesma then instructed her to go to the Provincial Capitol.
Ledesma then ushered her to the 6th floor of the building and entered the office of Board Member Tupas.
Ledesma then locked the office’s main door and took a bath. The guard also kept on praising the complainant for having an appealing body despite having six children.
While she was massaging him, the victim said Ledesma suddenly held her left arm and hugged her tightly.
She resisted, but the guard overpowered her. She struggled to free herself, but the guard allegedly threatened to kill her.
After raping her, Ledesma opened the office’s main door and the victim ran outside towards the elevator.
She went to the ground floor and ran outside of the Capitol, while she was trembling.
The following day, Ledesma reportedly called the victim’s brother and asked for apologies.
The guard offered the victim monetary consideration in exchange for a settlement of the case.
But the complainant declined the offer and pursued the rape case against Ledesma.
Ledesma has been detailed at Tupas’ office since 2013. However, he was recalled for reportedly harassing some female employees in December 2018.
