IRIGA CITY—The parents of a mentally retarded girl, who was allegedly raped by two suspects, has accused a prosecutor here of pocketing the settlement money that the government lawyer allegedly plotted.

In a two-page sworn statement dated March 24, 2006, the parents of mentally retarded nine-year old girl alleged rape victim claimed that settlement money on the rape case came upon the initiative of city prosecutor Raul Contreras in the latter’s house in San Nicolas here where they met the relatives of the accused.

But in an interview with the Radyo Natin with broadcaster Melvin Mayoga, Contreras denied the allegations. He dismissed the accusation as “balubagi” or concocted.

The parents of the rape victim narrated that the relatives of the accused expressed to them their intent to have the case settled amicably. Such conversation allegedly took place in front of Contreras while they were in latter’s house.

They claimed that the mothers of the accused in the rape case have also apologized during the course of the conversation and that they were told that the motion to withdraw information at the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Josue Ernacio has already been granted to the lawyers of suspects Jove Toralde and Glenn Andrew Ibo.

The parents of the rape victim also said in their sworn statement that they were also told that the motion to withdraw information filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 34 against Toralde was deferred by Judge Alfredo Agawa.

The two separate motions to withdraw information were prepared by Asst. Prosecutor Nonna Beltran which Contreras had approved. Later, Contreras filed a motion to dismiss but Agawa denied it saying that “the context that was cited in the affidavit of desistance cannot be considered as legal grounds for the dismissal of the case.”

The charges of statutory rape against the accused stemmed from the complaint filed by the victim lodged as criminal case 7427 and 7428 have indicted Toralde and Ibo while another co-accused was set free for lack of probable cause against him.

The parents of the rape victim further claimed that together with the victim they went to Contreras’ office to sign the affidavit of desistance at the same time that they were told that P400,000 have been offered as settlement.

They were told that the P400,000-cash has already been delivered to Contreras’ office that time but they were only given P20,000. They added that Contreras told them that they would be paid with the remainder of the sum when all the cases have already been dismissed.

The parents of the rape victim also alleged that they were taken aback when the city prosecutor unexpectedly asked them “Pira man kanako? (How much would be my share?)”.

They claimed that Contreras explained to them that some judges and persons who handled the case are also entitled to a share of the settlement money.

They added in their sworn statement that Contreras even told them that the P55,000 he was asking was much lower compared to the 20 percent of the amount that were supposed to be given them.