Alleged victim elated over celebrity doc Joel Mendez's arrest

Celebrity doctor Joel Mendez's alleged victim was heartened by the doctor's recent arrest, even though the arrest warrant over rape and attempted rape charges was issued two years earlier, GMA 7 late night news program "Saksi" reported on Friday.

"Sobrang nagkaroon ako ng hope," the victim explained. "Siyempre, kasi, kung alam niyo lang, hindi lang ako ang babaeng binastos niya talaga. Hindi lang ako. Ako lang talaga ang naglakas loob na lumapit, at i-push yung kung anomang kaso ito."

Given the recent development, the plaintiff called on the other alleged rape-victims to come forward and testify against Mendez. "Doon po sa mga nabiktima niya, ni Joel Mendez, tulungan niyo din ako. Tulungan niyo rin ang sarili niyo, na pagbayaran niya ang ginawa niya, anuman ang ginawa niya sa inyo. Huwag kayo matakot, huwag kayo mahiya. Dahil etong ginawa niya, alam niyong hindi natin deserve ang lahat niyan."

Mendez was arrested Thursday evening in Mandaluyong over for two rape charges and one attempted rape charge involving a minor in 2016.

Mandaluyong police chief Superintendent Mosies Villaceran Jr. explained that they had only recently received the arrest warrant, despite it being issued two years earlier.

"Nagbigay po nito (arrest warrant), galing po sa interested sa kasong ito," said Villaceran. "Binigyan po kami ng warrant na iyon, so ginawa namin pumunta kami sa court to verify if really may warrant. Baka fake yun, eh."

However, despite her initial elation over Mendez's arrest, the alleged victim was appalled that the doctor was released after posting P120,000 bail on each of the charges against him.

"Minor ako noong nangyari, tapos bailable? So hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari na bailable, dahil 17 lang ako, 2nd year college ako noong nangyari," lamented the victim. — DVM, GMA News