Panamanian ‘rape’: lesson for young girls

We really don’t get it. What’s the ruckus all about? As if its hands were not full enough, the Senate has begun probing the iniquity allegedly done by a Panamanian national against one of our Maria Claras. It castigated the Department of Foreign Affairs which sprang him from local custody by hastily affirming his diplomatic immunity. The case is now all sound and fury as the accused rapist has already flown out of the country.

But let’s get real. From what now appears on the CCTV, the girl in question behaved like a floozie out to show a foreigner a good time. The video does not lie. She is the one seen aggressing, kissing and necking the guy in the elevator, on their way up to his room—to spend the night with him. She does not deny that. But she rails against the naughty insinuation that she had consented to have sex with the deuce-bag. Huh?

On her behalf, bleeding hearts asseverate that just because she showed too much “fondness” for the guy does not necessarily mean she had agreed to let him get in her pants. Sen. Vicente Sotto opined that even so, if there is ever a point during the sexual congress that the woman says no, it can still be rape. (Inquirer, 5/20/12) Thus, even prostitutes who say, “no, don’t… stop!” can also cry rape! Ah, ok. But the thing is, it strains credulity so much no perspicacious judge could possibly give credence to such tommyrot. It is, indeed, a defense lawyer’s dream case—virtually winnable hands down!

Be that as it may, let it be a lesson to all our young girls who might have misread the slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines”! They have to learn to draw the line between having “fun” and baring their buns!

—STEPHEN L. MONSANTO,

Monsanto Law Office,

Loyola Heights, Quezon City,

[email protected]