1.

Before February 14, 2020, Melwin and I agreed to make our application letters at his
house on February 14, 2020. We also agreed that he would just text me around 6-8 pm
when he was already home because he also had prior commitments for that day.
2. In the morning of February 14, 2020, the accused messaged our FB group chat and
invited our friends, including me, to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the beach.
3. I agreed to the invitation because I was free for the entire day and the beach was just
near Melwin’s house.
4. At around 2PM, I, the accused, Joshua, Meah and Katherine arrived at the beach.
5. We celebrated Valentine’s Day by eating the food we brought. I was told that I should
bring spaghetti, and that they would just bring the rest of the food. As for the liquor, we
agreed that we would just buy them at the resort.
6. I drank around a bottle of red horse and a bottle of soju. I stopped drinking around 4PM
because I knew I needed to be sober when I made my application letter.
7. At around 5:30 PM, we ate and then we swam. At around 6:30 PM, I went to our cottage
and ate some more and watched the girls drink again.
8. Around 7pm, I checked my phone and I saw Melwin’s text message asking me to come
to his house already.
9. I asked Joshua to accompany me since it was already dark and the area towards
Melwin’s house does not have a proper road. It was full of different plants along the way
and there were some big rocks also.
10. I asked him because Joshua did not drink again and he was also sober at this point. He
told me he did not drink again because he did not like to vomit again.
11. However, the accused offered that he will be the one to accompany me. I told him that it
would be wise for him to stay at the beach and make himself sober and to take care of
our other friends. But the accused insisted, he would not take no for an answer. His
voice was really loud and angry, as if he wanted to pick a fight with Joshua and me. He
pointed out that he was manlier, and more capable than Joshua. I got scared that things
might escalate as his voice was getting even louder and angrier while he was outside
the cottage attempting to lead the way already, so I just went with him so that he would
calm down. And it was almost 7:20, and I did not want Melwin to keep on waiting.
12. While walking on the paved portion of the road, he was walking wobbly. But when we
reached the rocky portion of the road, he was able to continue on walking without
slipping, so I realized that the accused was quite okay already. However, he was still
angry, as he kept on repeating that he was better than Joshua, and that Joshua would
be slipping, falling, and scraping his knees if Joshua was the one accompanying me. I
did not talk to him the entire way because I was still scared by the way he acted at the
resort. But I was somehow a bit relieved by the fact that at least he wasn’t shouting and
the fact that he was sober.
13. Upon arriving at Melwin’s house, the accused told me that he would just wait for me
outside since he did not want to disturb us, and that he would just rest and cool down
from our walk, since it was cooler outside. I did not say anything because I was scared, I
might tick him off again. Yared simply waved at Melwin, and pointed that he would just
sit outside, Melwin just waved back. The porch area was visible by the window and just
 outside the sala. Yared seemed calmer and sober at this point. Melwin opened his
laptop and then went to the fridge to offer bottled-waters to us, both of us said no.I was
already drinking lots of fluids before we left. Melwin and I worked on our application
letters in his sala which was just near the porch where the accused was resting. I did not
tell Melwin what happened because I was scared that Yared might overhear us, and
then make him angry again.
14. 30 minutes later, we finished our application letters. Melwin was already offering to cook
pancit canton for us so that we could talk some more. But quickly after Melwin’s offer,
Yared cut us off. He called me out and insisted that we now leave as Joshua, Meah, and
Katherine were waiting for us at the beach. I got scared again, his voice reminded me of
the time he got angry at the resort. His voice did not sound angry, but I could tell that it
was stern and demanding. Melwin didn’t mind this because he was used to Yared’s
voice being loud.
15. I went outside to explain to Yared that our friends wouldn’t mind a couple more minutes,
and that I don’t want to be rude to Melwin. However, I saw him close his eyes trying to
contain his anger, and then he clenched his fists like he wanted to punch someone. I did
not want Yared to start shouting again and to try picking a fight with Melwin, so I had no
choice but to say goodbye to Melwin.
16. So I told Melwin that I had to go because our friends were waiting for us. I did not want
him to know that Yared was angry outside because things might just escalate. I told him
that we would be seeing each other the next day to submit our applications anyway.
17. While we were a few steps away from Melwin’s house, far enough that Melwin would not
be able to hear me even if I cried for help, the accused grabbed my arm so tightly I
though the veins in my arms were about explode, and told me that I am insanely hot and
beautiful and that he has long been dying to have sex with me.
18. When I heard him say those words, I was in total shock. I never expected him to say
this. I always treated him like a brother.
19. At first, I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what to say. I felt a mixture of shock,
anger, and pain. And then fear came rushing through my body, I remembered how angry
and intimidating he was all night. And at that point we were all alone in the dark, he
could hurt and abuse me, and no one was there to help. I thought shouting at him would
have just made him angrier and more violent. So I decided to chide him and to talk some
sense into him. I told him to perish such an evil thought and that he should be ashamed
of himself for wanting to have sex with me even if we are first cousins. I tried to escape
from his strong grip.
20. The accused told me that he does not care at all if we are first cousins and pleaded with
me that we make love and just keep it between us. Yared tightened his grip even more,
his nails already ripping through my flesh.
21. I realized that the accused was determined to make unwanted sexual urges against me
and molest me. I can sense that there was no talking him out of it, his eyes were dead
set on my body. His grip tightened even more as seconds passed by.
22. I tried to walk past him but the accused tightened his hold of my right arm even more
and he was so strong that I could not get away.
23. The accused was taller than me and he was bigger than me. He was always known to
have an intimidating personality, not only because of his physique but also how he treats
other people. On the other hand, I was thin and I had no strength to escape from his
strong grasp.
24. The accused then dragged me to the bushy area at the back of my cousin Melwin’s
house. I cannot exactly remember how many steps or exactly how far it was because I
was thinking of what was about to happen and how to escape my predicament. But I
was sure that it was far enough that even if I shouted for help, my cousin Melwin would
not hear me and people passing by would not notice us at all. No help could come my
way. He then started kissing my lips and my neck and fondled my breasts.
25. I pleaded with him to stop but he never listened. I wanted to shout for help and fight back
but he told me that he would kill my 5-year-old brother, Kevin, should I resist.
26. I was so afraid when he said that. Fear enveloped my entire body; my body became
numb. I remembered my little brother who was defenseless against a big man like the
accused. I remembered that he could easily harm my brother and get away with it
because he would be the least suspected person because our families were close. We
were like siblings already.
27. And so, I could not resist. I remember the feeling of being helpless because no matter
what I do or think, it was my brother’s safety which mattered the most. Nothing else
mattered, it was only him.
28. The accused then removed my shorts and underwear and licked my vagina. I wanted to
kick him but I was afraid that he would kill my brother. His threat was clear: Should I
resist, he will kill my brother. Even if I tried to resist during that time, my life would be at
stake because he was stronger than me and I thought that he could easily kill me. He
was so strong that he could simply bash my head on one of the rocks and kill me. And I
got scared that if I died, no one would be able to protect my brother if he decides to kill
him. Even asking for anyone’s help would be useless because we were in a place where
no one could hear me nor see us nor notice us and it was already too late because I
knew he was capable of anything because he was so determined to have sex with me. I
saw it in his eyes as if no matter what happens, he will have me, and I was right.
29. After a while, the accused asked me to turn around and he inserted his penis into my
vagina and kept pumping from behind like there was no tomorrow. He kept on pumping
as if he was in a hurry, as if he was just banging a door and not a person. But I could not
do anything; I feared for my brother’s life.
30. I remember that each time he pounded inside me, it was physically and emotionally
painful. As if my private area would want to block his penis from going inside me which
caused me terrible pain. However, I was not able to shout because every time he
pumped, I could remember that I needed my brother to be safe. And every time I felt his
skin against me, I became number to everything.
31. I cannot remember how long he kept on thrusting his disgusting penis inside me
because I was thinking about my brother and what would happen to him if I told anyone,
and those thoughts kept me distracted from what he was doing.
32. Then, the accused sat on a rock and asked me to sit on his lap, place his penis inside
my vagina, and do the pumping myself. I did not want to do it but I remembered when
 the accused said that should I resist, he will kill my brother. I also thought that I cannot
escape already or even if I tried, he might kill me, and I would not be able to protect my
brother. I also thought that it was already hopeless because if people knew what
happened to me, all they would see was a girl who was raped, a girl who was used like a
rag doll, a girl who may have a daughter from her rapist. I realized that my life would
never be the same again, especially if we had a daughter out of this. My mind and body
became even more numbed, and I just followed what the accused ordered me.
33. As I kept on thrusting, I was crying and weeping. All I thought was that I wanted this to
be over, I wanted my brother to be safe, I wanted to be alive to protect my brother even
though I may be dead inside. I just want it to end.
34. While his penis was deep inside me, and while his body started to shiver and his eyes
almost popped out, he asked me If he could ejaculate inside my vagina.
35. When he asked me this, it was like one problem from this disgusting crime would be
eliminated and so I adamantly refused because I was afraid to get pregnant. I did not
want to bear a child that was a product of rape committed by my own cousin. He then
violently pushed me away and let his semen burst into his palm. I was on the ground,
helpless and crying.
36. He ordered me to put my shorts and underwear back on and threatened to kill my
brother if I told anybody of what happened.
37. We then went back, in silence, to the beach resort. On the way back all I could feel was
disgust, anger, pain and fear. I thought about all the scenarios that could happen if I told
my friends and family about what happened. I thought about the humiliation that we
would go through and the risk on my brother’s life. As we got back at the beach, we all
continued to enjoy the night as I pretended to act normally as if nothing bad ever
happened to me. By the time we returned to the beach, I avoided the accused. I could
not bear to talk to him, I could not even look at him.
38. Upon arriving around 9:30, I sat inside the cottage and I just stared at the ocean, hoping
I could join the waves and disappear far away from the accused. It was only at this
moment that I really felt the effects of the rape on my body. My whole body was sore and
painful. I also noticed the bruises on my arm where Yared held me. I saw the accused
glaring at me, and lifting his finger towards his neck and making a gesture as if to remind
me that he would kill my brother if anyone finds out. And so, I started to go to the girls
and talked to them. I did not drink again because I was afraid that the accused would
take advantage of me again if I was drunk. I was also scared that if I got drunk, I would
be blurting out to my friends what happened. So, I just talked and laughed with my other
friends, and pretended to be okay. I also did not eat again because I felt disgusted on
my entire body.
39. And so by 11PM, we left the beach and returned to our respective homes. The problem
was Yared lived in the same neighborhood as I did. I was scared to be alone with him
again, and I didn’t want my friends to notice that I was acting weird. So, I told them that
my mom texted me to buy some milk at a nearby 711 store (which was in a different
direction to our neighborhood). My friends were already too tired to question this. Yared
also went with the group. The images of the incident and the pain between my legs kept
bothering me, and I just walked, hoping that I can forget them with every step I take.
40. However, it was a futile endeavor. When I arrived at my parents’ house, I cried all night
and I ran out of tears. I even thought of killing myself. However, I could not kill myself
since I feared for my brother’s life and in my desire to spare my family from the slings
and arrows of public scandal and ridicule, I chose to suffer in silence. I thought that it
would be selfish if I killed myself and leave my family to deal with the public ridicule and
stereotypes of suicide. I also had to make sure that the accused would not harm my
brother.
41. A week after the incident, my application for employment was accepted by Shangri-la
Hotel and I busied myself working to make a living, and also to forget what Yared did to
me. During my free time, I also pursued my modeling career on the side.
42. Even after the incident, there were nights when I can still feel the pain that I felt as the
accused was pounding inside me. And, every time I felt like telling my family the truth, I
would check if my brother was okay. I was, and still am, in a state of trauma. I buried
myself in so much work to stop myself from thinking about it.
43. However, it was not easy because the accused and I lived in the same neighborhood
and our families were close. Every time I saw him, I could vividly recall what he did to
me. I would always feel the anger burn even more every time I see him. But as the anger
grew, the fear even grew deeper within me. Any moment he was inside the house, I
feared that he would rape me again. So, every time he was present, I made sure that my
family and I were together and that I was not alone.
44. Sometime in September 2020, my parents confronted me about a rumor circulating
around via Facebook that the accused and I were having sexual relations and that I am
a sexually promiscuous woman for engaging in sexual intercourse with several men,
even with a cousin.
45. I vehemently denied the rumors. When I saw the facebook post, the memory became
clear to me, as if I was raped again. And to add insult to the injury, I was made the
perpetrator instead of being the victim.
46. I asked myself if it was not enough that he violated me. Should he really destroy my
reputation, as well as my family’s reputation? I could not keep it a secret to my family
any longer. I couldn’t bear the thought that I would remain silent, and let my family suffer
and assume that I was an immoral woman. So, I told my family about everything that
happened that night. We cried together while I was telling them what happened. After
that, they hugged me, and told me that they believed me and that everything was going
to be alright. They said that they would support me in every step of the way.
47. After the rumor came out, my family and I avoided the accused or any member of his
immediate family or people who remained close to him. My family was always on the
lookout for Yared, especially to guard my little brother.
48. With my family and friends’ support, I realized that now was the time that I should file a
case against him. I even regretted not filing the case sooner. I regret not realizing sooner
that I was never alone. I realized that I should not be afraid anymore. There is no use of
being afraid that he might kill my brother, when in fact he already hurt my entire family.
All we can do now is to make sure that we are safe while we try to rebuild our reputation
and demand justice. I gained strength from my family and friends, as they rallied behind
me to support me
49. I remembered that night that I wanted everything to be done, I thought after what
happened, everything will be alright. However, the Facebook post made me realize that
it never stopped. Even after that night, I continued to hurt due to the trauma caused by
the accused, and the more time slipped by, the pain became worse until my family was
already affected.
50. As my family has been unfairly embarrassed and humiliated by these false and
unfounded rumors, and in order to vindicate my name and honor and get justice for this
bestial and heinous crime committed by the accused against my person and
womanhood, I finally decided to come forward and lodge this complaint against the
accused.
51. I am hoping that by getting justice, this pain would stop, if not stop, at least it would
lessen. At least other girls who are in the same situation with me would have the
courage to tell their story and that at the end, they will get the justice that they deserved.
52. Upon the advice of some well-meaning friends, I reported the incident to the Police
Station of Cebu City. I was then brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital for
medical examination.