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	Priest's Self-Confessed Lover Drops Rape Charge By Florence F. Hibionada The News Today [Philippines] May 24, 2007 http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/05/24/priests.self.confessed.lover.drops.rape.charge.html Rape charges against a young Catholic priest has been ordered dismissed following the withdrawal of the cases by the complainant herself some three months after the public declaration of their purported affair. In a letter coursed thru First Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Portia Cabalum, the 25 year-old self-confessed lover of Father Martin Alarcon manifested her intent to officially withdraw two counts of rape charges docketed as I.S. No. 07-327 and I.S. No. 07- 328. Primary reason stated for disinterest to the case was due to her "physical condition" that she explained will cause her not to attend the hearings "thus, I am not interested anymore in prosecuting further the same." "For this reason, I believe that I may not be able to sustain and establish the guilt of the respondent beyond reasonable doubt," the complainant's letter continued. Fr. Alarcon manifested his conformity by affixing his signature on the same letter with the added agreement that no civil nor criminal cases will be filed against the complainant nor to all others previously involved in filing the earlier rape charges. The beleaguered priest will take an indefinite "spriritual leave" following yesterday's development. (See related story) The complainant's counsel, lawyer Edeljulio Romero assisted his client and likewise affixed his signature on the one-page letter to the Prosecutor. Cabalum in resolving the matter proceeded to recommend for the dropping of the rape charges against Fr. Alarcon that was subsequently approved by Provincial Prosecutor Bernabe Dusaban. "These cases are pending preliminary investigation and resolution. Before the resolution is finally issued, today, the undersigned received a letter from private complainant (name withheld) asking for the withdrawal of the complaint for the reason that due to her physical condition, she cannot attend the hearing of the cases, thus she is no longer interested to prosecute further the same," excerpts of the Resolution as obtained by The News Today (TNT) stated. "Wherefore as requested, the undersigned investigating prosecutor has no other recourse but to recommend the withdrawal of the complaint and these cases are deemed dismissed."
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