PSG member sentenced to life imprisonment for raping minor

A member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) was convicted of rape and was sentenced to life in prison by a local court.

Staff Sergeant Walter Candelaria was found guilty of raping a teenage girl at the PSG barracks inside Malacañang Compound last June 2011.

The decision was handed down by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 5 Presiding Judge Emily Gaspar-Gito.

Candelaria was charged for violating Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) and RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).

Barangay San Miguel chairman Angel Murillo was also sentenced to life for his role in peddling the teenage girl to Candelaria and two other PSG members.

In 2011, the victim, a 15-year-old girl, said that she was forcefully taken to the barracks of the PSG Monday night after being introduced by Murillo to 3 PSG members.

According to the girl, one of the PSG men (later identified as Candelaria) took her aside and proceeded to force himself on her.

Candelaria later surrendered to the Manila Police District (MPD) but denied raping the girl.