Three gang members to spend 331 years in jail for rape

Three members of a local gang in Bacolod City will spend the next 331 years in jail after a judge convicted them for several acts of rape, including the gang-raping of a 15-year-old girl five years ago. Bacolod Judge Ray Alan Drilon ordered 280 years for Nielbert Gonzales, Klendon Elano and Johnrel Landao, members of the “Real Pinoy Blood" gang. They were convicted for seven counts of rape, with each count netting a life term of 40 years. The judge also ordered the three to pay their victim P75,000 in civil indemnities, P75,000 in moral damages, and P25,000 in exemplary damages for the gang rape. “There was common design, cooperation, unity of purpose and concerted action by the defendants in perpetrating the crime of rape, thus each is liable not only for the rape which he had committed but, likewise, for those committed by others," Drilon said in his decision. According to a report on the news site Visayan Daily Star, the three may face up to 331 years in jail because they were also found guilty of rape in three other cases. The three persons were sentenced 12 to 17 years imprisonment for each rape case, or up to 51 years. Other gang members still at large Meanwhile, at least four other gang members linked to the gang-rape remain at large. A fifth member was arrested but has not yet been arraigned. The other alleged gang-rapists who are still at large were identified as Jeffrey Lanado, Stephen Millan, Willie Ulgasan and a certain Rocky. Casper Delaben was recently apprehended but has not yet been arraigned. Court records showed that the gang-rape occurred near a basketball court on March 29, 2005. “Gang rape is not a recent phenomenon and the psychology of gang rape is group oriented, for individuals are shown to be more aggressive in groups than they would be alone. This explains why groups like gangs are easily spurred into aggressive behavior, which is apparent in the dynamics of gang rape," the judge said. The victim's mother said she was grateful for the conviction of the three but hopes that the other culprits will also be arrested soon. –VVP, GMANews.TV