Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II commended prosecutors from Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan for the successful prosecution of several cases involving Violation of Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act) and Adultery (Article 333 of the Revised Penal Code).
In a nine-page Decision, the Lingayen, Pangasinan Regional Trial Court – Branch 68 sentenced Wilson Fernandez, a Production Aide of 106.3 Hot FM Radio Dagupan City, to imprisonment of from six months to four years and two months for Violation of Section 5(e), paragraph (2) of Republic Act No. 9262.
Fernandez was earlier charged by his estranged wife for failing to give her and their three minor children financial support since 2010.
In another case, the Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Regional Trial Court – Branch 25 sentenced Romeo Aguilar to imprisonment of from one month to six months and to pay a fine of P100,000 and moral and exemplary damages in the amount of P20,000 in one count of Violation of Section 5(b) and (e) in relation to Section 1 of the same law; and imprisonment of from two years to four years and two months and fine of P100,000 and moral and exemplary damages in the amount of P30,000 in another count.
Aguilar was also required to undergo psychological counselling under the Municipal Social Welfare Office of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
Accused was found by the court to have inflicted psychological, emotional and physical suffering to his former live-in partner.
Meanwhile, the Alaminos City, Pangasinan Municipal Trial Court sentenced the wife of a police officer to imprisonment of from six months to two years and 11 months and 10 days for committing Adultery.
Although there was no direct evidence against accused Luzviminda Galingan, wife of police officer John a.k.a. “June” Galingan, the court relied on the testimony of one of the witnesses on “the act of the accused of torridly kissing, hugging and entering a tent.”
Aguirre cited the efforts of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Pangasinan, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Robert Canosa of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, and Alaminos City Prosecutor Abrahan Ramos II which resulted in the conviction of the accused in the said cases. “Only through the efficient administration of justice can we regain public trust. These convictions bespeak of our prosecutors’ stance to pursue to the end each case so that justice be served,” Aguirre said.