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	Rape Case against Priest Continues By Barbara Mae Dacanay Gulf News September 5, 2011 http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/rape-case-against-priest-continues-1.861832 Manila: The Philippine Department of Justice has ordered government prosecutors to file a rape complaint against a Catholic priest before the regional trial court in Compostela Valley province. A resolution signed by Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento overturned previous decisions by prosecutors to dismiss the complaint filed by a 21-year-old college student against Father Melvin de la Cuesta. The victim, who worked as a clerk for the church's office, had elevated her complaint before the justice department after local prosecutors junked her original complaint as well as her appeal. The justice department's decision was based on a Supreme Court jurisprudence that "no woman in her right mind would openly acknowledge the violation of her person and allow the examination of her private parts if she has not been raped". The victim was 16 when she was allegedly raped at the convent on July 23, 2006.
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