The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a retired government prosecutor to a total of 10 years imprisonment for child abuse and obstruction of justice.
Julius Padios, a former assistant provincial prosecutor of Negros Occidental, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for abusing his former client, a high school student who filed a rape complaint against a pastor in Negros Occidental in 2004.
The Sandiganbayan found Padios, “who was old enough to be the victim’s grandfather,” guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
“The accused did not only traumatize and threaten the development of the girl, but also betrayed the trust of the young girls on adult members of the community,” the ruling, penned by Associate Justice Samuel Martires, said.
Padios got a six-year prison term for violating RA 7610 or the law against child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination; and another two to four years for violation of Presidential Decree 1829, which penalizes obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.
The ex-fiscal was also ordered to pay a fine of P6,000 for violation of the latter.
According to court records, Padios, who was then assigned in Silay City, was the one handling the case of the rape victim.
In one occasion, the victim and her aunt met with Padios in his office upon his request.
Padios told the victim’s aunt that he needed to talk to his client alone. When the aunt relented, he asked the girl to not just narrate, but also take off her clothes and demonstrate how she was raped.
He then kissed the girl and told her not to tell anyone about what happened in his office.
Reports said Padios even offered the girl P10,000 to drop the charges against the rapist.
