Noven Belleza on rape case aftermath

MANILA, Philippines – Tawag ng Tanghalan’s Grand Champion Noven Belleza can finally breathe a sigh of relief now that the sexual assault case against him has been dismissed.

During a press conference with the singer on Tuesday, September 26, Noven revealed that he never worried about his career being over after he was involved in the case.

“Hindi po [ako natakot] kasi nanalangin po ako araw-araw. At saka naniniwala po ako sa Diyos. Kung mga pagsubok lang ‘yun, iniisip ko na mga pagsubok lang talaga ‘yun, kasi hindi ko naman talaga ginawa eh. Hindi magbibigay si Lord ng mga pagsubok na ‘di mo kayang lagpasan. Iglesia [ni Crist] po ako. ‘Yun ang paniniwala ko,” he said.

(I was [not afraid] because I prayed everyday. And I believe in God. If it were just a test, I would think that it was really just a test, because I really didn’t do it. THe Lord won’t give ou challenges that you can’t get past, I’m Iglesia [ni Cristo]. That’s what I believe.)

In July, Noven was arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl. The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, however, downgraded the case to sexual assault and he was able to post bail after spending 3 nights under police custody.

The accuser eventually dropped the case early this month. According to her one-page affidavit of desistance, she lost interest in pursuing the case because of the adverse effects it brought to her and her family.

Noven added that he was willing to face the girl in court to clear his name but the alleged victim never showed up in court hearings.

“Kung ano ‘yung binato n’ya sa akin, gusto kong ilaban ‘yun sa korte, para mapatunayan… Malinis po konsensya ko mula nung pinaratangan ako. Wala po akong ginawang kasalanan.”

(Whatever she accused me of, i wanted to fight it in court to prove… that my conscience has been clear since I was accused. I had did not do anything wrong.)

“Dismissed na ‘yung kaso, ayoko nang palakihin pa. Binigyan naman sila ng pagkakataon na ilaban. Ngayon na-dismiss kasi wala naman silang intensyon na ilaban talaga. Kaya ‘yun, pinapasalamat ko na lang sa Maykapal na na-dismiss na ‘yung kaso. Tuloy pa rin ang buhay.”

(The case has been dismissed and I don’t want to make the issue bigger. They were given a chance to fight. Now, it’s ben dismissed because they had no intention of really fighting. So there, I just thank the Lord that the case has been dismissed. Life goes on.)

He also clarified that they never had a settlement offer, saying that he did not want to use his personal money to pay for a crime he never committed.

“Nalaman ko na-dismiss po nung judge, kasi wala po s’yang, gustong ilaban po. Wala rin po s’ya sa mga hearing. Kausap ko po palagi ‘yung abugado ko. Kung may settlement man, kasi pera ko ‘yung gagamitin, ayoko. Ayoko na rin pong makipag-usap sa kanya.”

(I found out that the case was dismissed by the judge, beause she had nothing to fight for. She was not at the hearings. I was always talking to my lawyer. If there was a settlement, I wouldn’t have wanted it, because it would have been my money that was used. I don’t want to talk to her anymore either.)

When asked if he has already forgiven the accuser, Noven said that he has no ill feelings towards her.

“Wala naman po akong sama ng loob sa kanya. Ipapanalangin ko na lang. Ako, wala akong inaapakan na tao, alam nya ‘yun. Alam ng Diyos ‘yun.”

(I have no ill feelings towards her. I’ll just pray for her. Me, I never stepped on anyone, he knows that. God knows that.)

Through it all, Noven is grateful that his girlfriend, a fellow Ilonggo, never left his side.

“Naapektuhan pero hindi basta basta naniniwala ‘yun eh. Inintindi n’ya po ako at alam po ‘yun ng mga nakakilala sa akin.”

(She was affected, but she won’t just believe something like that. She understood me and those around me know that.)

For those who still have their doubts, Noven vows to gain their trust once again and prove them wrong.

“Likas na talaga ‘yun sa Pililpino, wala pa nga, buhay ka pa, pinapatay ka na. Kaya sa mga nagba-bash, salamat pa rin po. Ipo-orove ko po sa inyo ‘yun, na mali po ‘yung iniisip n’yo sakin. ‘Di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko, pero nandito pa rin ako. “Ipo-pprove ko yun sa inyo.”

(It’s natrual to Filipinos, nothing has happened, you’re still alive, but they’ll say you’re dead. So those who bash, thank you. I’ll prove to you that what you’re thinking about me is wrong. I don’t know what I will do, but I’m still here. I’ll prove it to all of you.) – Rappler.com