Ours is a history of revolutionary struggle against all

forms of oppression for national freedom, justice,

equality and peace. The same struggle and aspirations
for freedom and respect for human rights have
inspired our collective spirit to become a nation proud
of our heritage and diverse culture. These make
human rights our foremost concern. Below is an actual
case decided by the Supreme Court, write a reflection
on how these atrocities reflects the justice system in
the Philippines.
• People vs Ritter (1991) 194 SCRA 690
Heinrich Stefan Ritter was charged with the crime of rape with homicide for the rape of Rosario
Baluyot, a girl then under 12 years of age, who later died because of a foreign object left inside her
vaginal canal. The evidence showed that on October 10, 1986, Ritter brought a boy (Jessie Ramirez)
and girl (Rosario Baluyot), both street children, inside his hotel room at MGM Hotel in Olongapo
City. While inside the hotel room, Ritter had the two children bathe. He then took them to bed and
fondled them. The following morning, Ritter gave them some money and left. The girl Rosario told
Jessie that “the American” put something inside her private part and it was still lodged inside her.
Rosario complained of pain. Months later, she was later found unconscious in the street with her
skirt bloodied and she was foul smelling. A garbage scavenger, Gaspar Alacntara, took her to a
hospital and some religious good samaritans cared for her. On May 19, 1987, or seven months after
the incident, a doctor operated on her to remove the foreign object which turned out to be a
portion of a vibrator. The object was already covered in pus and blood when it was extracted from
Rosario. The day following the operation, Rosario died.However, RITTER WAS ACQUITTED BEYOND
REASONABLE DOUBT AND DEPORTED BUT WAS MADE TO PAY 30,000 PHP FOR MORAL AND CIVIL
COMPENSATION. The trial court one crucial issue in this case is the age of the victim—whether or
not Rosario Baluyot was less than twelve (12) years old at the time the alleged incident happened
on October 10, 1986. The age is important in determining whether or not there was statutory rape,
the prosecution failed to prove this, because of this Ritter was let go.