IROSIN, Sorsogon - A farmer was meted out seven death penalties by the court here despite the abolition of capital punishment last June.

        Roberto Garbida of Brgy. Sua, Matnog, Sorsogon was found guilty of raping his stepdaugther seven times from April 1 to April 7, 1997, all of which took place in full view of the victim’s mother, Anita.

        Court records show that the suspect started raping the victim, identified only as Mona Liza, even when she was still in Grade I but only the rape incidents from April 1 to 7 were recalled in detail by her. She was already 12 years old and in Grade IV that time.

        Based on the records of the case, Garbida was the second husband of Anita. The victim was Anita’s child by her first marriage.

        Mona Liza said her step-father raped her inside their house last April 1, which was witnessed by her mother who was sick.

        When her mother tried to stop Garbida from sexually assaulting her, the victim said he slapped and kicked her, who became helpless to stop the rape.

        Since that day until April 7, her stepfather would rape her daily in the presence of her mother, who could do nothing for fear of her husband.

        On April 8, the victim, together with her mother and stepfather, went to the barangay’s health center where Anita met Thelma De Vera, a midwife, and revealed to her what happened.

        When Garbida left them at the health center to see his brother, they were brought by de Vera to her house where they hid.

        There they met Barangay Captain Jaime de la Fuente who immediately fetched a policeman from the poblacion and had Garbida arrested.

        Judge Adolfo Fajardo of the Regional Trial Court Branch 65, who handled the case, said he imposed the penalty of death since he has not yet been officially informed of the abolition of such penalty.

        He cited the aggravating circumstance of ignominy, the commission of the crime in full view of the mother, as reasons for the imposition of the supreme penalty.

        Fajado, who favors the abolition of the capital punishment, said it would now be up to the Court of Appeals to decide whether to reduce the punishment to reclusion perpetua.

        Aside from the seven death penalties, the offender was also ordered by the court to pay P75, 000 as civil indemnity and P75, 000 as moral damages for each count of rape. Media Solutions