Mother of Nueva Ecija rape victim exposes P1M bribe attempt

The mother of “Rosa”, who says she was raped by former Nueva Ecija politicians Romeo Borja Sr. and his son Romeo Borja Jr., said there has been an attempt to pay her daughter off with P1 million to stop pursuing the case.

“May nag o-offer sa amin. Akala nila mababayaran ako,” Rosa's mother said during an interview in GMA's “24 Oras” program on Wednesday.

“P1 million? Hindi P1 million ang buhay ng anak ko,” she retorted.

Although the court hearing between the two parties was recently delayed, Rosa and her family are feeling positive that they will find justice, the report said.

According to 18-year-old Rosa, she was repeatedly raped by the two Borjas during the period of April 2011 to November 2012.

She said the molestation started after she met the suspects at a beauty pageant she joined.

“Natatakot po [ako]. Siyempre kinakabahan [kami]. Pinagbabantaan po nila kami,” Rosa admitted.

She said it wasn't easy to come out and file rape charges against the suspects, but she felt it was the right thing to do.

“'Yung pong pananakit po nila at tsaka yung sapilitang pong paggawa ng hindi maganda, labag po sa kagustuhan ko. Yung pagtutok po ng baril sa akin,” she said.

Former Pantabangan Mayor Borja Sr. is detained in Pampanga after he was arrested in Pangasinan last month while former Pantabangan Vice Mayor Borja Jr. was arrested in Manila last week.

Both father and son have denied the allegations hurled against them, the report said.

“'Yan naman ay ating haharapin at masasagot naman natin sa korte yan. Mga ebidensiya na lang natin ang magpapatunay kung ano talaga yung tunay na nangyari,” Borja Jr. said.

Earlier, the court declined the elder Borja's request to allow him to stay in a hospital due to tuberculosis.

A human trafficking case has also been filed against Rosa's cousin in connection with the incident. — Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News