Camarines Sur town councilor faces raps for allegedly molesting minor

MANILA, Philippines - A town councilor in Camarines Sur province faces charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old waitress working in his canteen. Radio dzRH reported Tuesday that the National Bureau of Investigation lodged a complaint before the provincial prosecutor's office against Bato town councilor Diosdado Zorilla, 46, for violating Republic Act 7610 or the law protecting women and children from abuses. In the complaint, NBI said the victim claimed she was abused five times this year alone - on April 5 and 16, and on May 10, 21, and 31. She started working in Zorilla's canteen on Dec. 25, 2006 at age 14, the report said. Initial NBI investigation showed the victim tested positive for indications of sexual abuse. The victim is now in the custody of the town's social welfare and development office. Bato is a fourth-class town in Camarines Sur, with a population of 42,739 people in 7,737 households. - GMANews.TV