Archie Alemania found guilty of acts of lasciviousness in Rita Daniela case

A Bacoor court on Friday found Archie Alemania guilty of committing acts of lasciviousness in the case filed against him by actress Rita Daniela.

In a 21-page decision, the Bacoor Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 sentenced Alemania to suffer imprisonment from one month and one day to one year and one day.

“Based on the factual finding that the apology text of the accused referred to his actuations inside the car, he effectively admits his complicity which is analogous to voluntary admission that allowed the truthful prosecution of the case,” the court said.

The court also directed him to pay indemnity and moral damages at P20,000 each, with an interest rate of 6% per annum from the date of the finality of the decision until fully paid.

In Daniela's complaint, she alleged that Alemania kissed and touched her without consent and repeatedly made inappropriate remarks against her after a Thanksgiving party last September. During the party, Alemania already made obscene remarks towards Daniela.

In a statement, her camp welcomed the decision.

“Of course we are very happy with the decision. Rita fought and she attained justice,” lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque, Daniela’s legal counsel, said.

During the trial, Daniela’s camp asserted that Alemania forcibly kissed her, hugged her tightly, and touched her body against her will.

For his part, Alemania said that he only kissed Daniela and nothing more.

In its ruling, the Court said that it is convinced that Daniela is the one telling the truth.

“Her testimony that she has been kissed, hugged, and touched — against her will — even if not asked directly throughout her testimony, appeared vivid when she was confronted about questions...” it said.

The court also noted that her narrative coincides with the admission of Alemania. It said that his anger, his text message and rejected call, and the request for him to leave were “persuasive pieces of connected evidence” leaning to the conclusion that he committed the said acts.

It also found that his actions were lewd.

“He did these acts to a woman, by her lonesome, who had already declined his physical advances. His subsequent actions of kissing her lips, hugging her from the back, and mashing her breasts are lewd,” it said.— LA/AOL, GMA Integrated News