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Friday, May 30, 2008

APRIL 4, 1963: ANNABELLE HUGGINS COURTROOM ORDEAL



Malolos, Bulacan, April 3--- Annabelle Huggins took everything on the chin today as she was pummeled with questions about the rape she claims was committed on her by bulky jeepney driver Ruben Ablaza. Sympathetic spectators jammed the courtroom of Judge Samuel F. Reyes for six hours to witness Annabelle’s dramatic legal battle to convict Ablaza. Fifteen constabulary soldiers were posted around the courtroom. They were there, according to Lt. Col. Cesar Lucero, Bulacan PC commander because of the strong public sentiment against Ablaza.

An odd match

Sitting only a few meters away from each other, Annabelle and Ablaza would made an oddly-matched pair. The girl was frail, dark-eyed, and pale. She had a pretty way of tilting her head that showed off her high cheekbones and fine jawline. Yesterday, Colonel Lucero gave her to a beauty parlor treatment which resulted in a becoming upswept hairdo with bangs sweeping her forehead. Ablaza who says he wants her to be his wife was unwashed and unkempt after five days in the stockade of the Bulacan PC in this town. For five days, he had worn the same white shirt, white pants, and slippers. The “tail” of a pink comb stuck through the back pocket of his pants. He sat unmoving through the trial. Occasionally he would stare at Annabelle, his plump baby face impassive.

Hunger and blows

Questioned by Assistant Provincial Fiscal Pascual Kliatchko, Annabelle told how he was dragged into a jeep last Oct. 23,1962 by Lauro Ocampo and “Totoy pulis” Leoncio, with Ablaza at the wheel; how she was threatened with death if she dared to cry for help; how Ablaza took her to the house of a “compadre” in Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan; how Ablaza tried to abuse her, but failed, on the first night; and how he finally succeeded in overcoming her because of acute hunger and the blows she received. Jugde Reyes ordered all spectators out of the room when the testimony came to the part where she was allegedly attacked. Only lawyers, court personnel, PC guards, and newspapermen were allowed to stay, but the crowd patiently waited outside until they were let in again.

Near hysterical

Calm at the beginning of her testimony, Annabelle broke down when she was asked to narrate the details of the rape. She sobbed repeatedly when questioned about the experience. When defense lawyer Eufrocino Del Rosario badgered her with questions, trying to trip her up, Annabelle would raise her voice in near-hysterical answer. Throughout the hearing, Annabelle showed her dislike of Ablaza. He was a trouble-maker, she said, and never paid for the games he played at the billiard hall she looked after. He and his gang would barge in, stealing the balls, and tearing the felt on the billiard tables. She was slapped, struck and threatened with death when she resisted Ablaza, Annabelle said. The next morning, she woke up to find herself naked. And for breakfast, Ablaza offered cold rice and water. She refused to eat.

The lawyers

Attorney Del Rosario could not count on the traditional sentiment for the underdog, but he relentlessly probed Annabelle’s statements in an effort to establish inconsistencies. This is Del Rosario’s first big case. Only 30, he has been practicing for three years since his graduation from the Far Eastern University. Just as dapper s Del Rosario was Fiscal Kliatchko , whose name betrays Polish ancestor, has been assistant provincial fiscal for the last years. He has handled such sensational cases as the murder of PFFC agent Hector Crisostomo and the joyride-killing of teenage Brenia Nano.

The judge

Above the sad, sordid swirl of details sat Judge Reyes, as cool and fact-seeking as Spencer Tracy could ever have been in the movie “Judgment of Nuremberg.” He was impatient only at the grammar of court interpreter Avelino Joaquin Jr., who did a yeoman’s job of translating English into Tagalog and vise versa. Joaquin, who has been on the job for only three months, had to do such difficult things as translating Tagalog euphemisms into English euphemisms. Often, he fell prey to the traps laid by the Tagalog language for those who think in it but speak in English.

Minor plot

There was a minor plot in the drama, too. To one side of the courtroom sat advertising executive Lu Ocampo, worried father of Lauro, one of Ablaza’s co-accused. Lauro, 24, just got married last November, and was on a vacation from his job as a photo-engraver when he got involved in the abduction of Annabelle. The other person who, Annabelle said, forced her into Ruben’s jeepney is still at large. Jose “Totoy Pulis” Leoncio is said to be the son of a policeman in Caloocan City. He is reported to be roaming around, unarrested, because he is not named in Annabelle’s complaint. She said she did not know his full name.

Broken Home

Judge Reyes is determined to get the trial over with. Apparently, so is Annabelle--- this afternoon she refused to take a break after testifying for two hours, saying she wanted to go on with the hearing. It will be a short trial. But already anxious people were asking: What will happen to Annabelle? She is the product of a broken home. She was just three when her parents separated; her brother Elwin was two, and her sister Merle, one year old. The father, Roy Huggins, the son of an American lumberman, has another family in Ozamis City. The children’s mother, a former schoolteacher, is also reported to have a large family in Zamboanga City.

What of the future?

The three Huggins children were turned over by their father to his childless sister and her husband. They grew up in Iloilo, coming to Manila in 1954. Their uncle could not support all three of them, so Annabelle had to quit high school. Last year, she was given charge of her uncle’s billiard hall in Caloocan City, which was the hangout of Ablaza and his friends. Her relatives say that when everything is over, Annabelle will go back to school, to give her a chance for a better life. The girl herself is worried about her future. Colonel Lucero has become Annabelle confidante. And these, he says, are the questions bothering her: Will a child spring from her forcible union with Ablaza? Will anyone want to marry her? Will people let her forget?

See CFI Decision and Supreme Court Affirmation of the case
and Annabelle Huggins as a movie star

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to AnnaBelle ? buhay pa ba siya ? nasaan kaya siya ngayon kung buhay pa ? umuwi sa Iloilo ? nasentensyahan ba si Ablaza ? bitay? o life imprisonment ?
College freshman ako noon sa UST ng mangyari ito...

Auggie

Anonymous said...

It's incredible to see how biased the whole situation was against Annabelle (women in general). I saw the movie "Doorway to Hell," she was great. Too bad - who knows what happened to her.

Anonymous said...

ang balita ko pumanaw na si annabelle at si ruben ablaza din ay pumanaw na rin makalipas ng apat na taon pagkalaya nya nuong 1999

Anonymous said...

nakulong si ruben ablaza ng mahigit 30 yrs at halos kalahati ng kanyang buhay ay ginugol nya sa loob ng piitan

Anonymous said...

napanood ko yun annabel huggins story sa sinehan na ginampanan ni cesar montano si ruben ablaza, 1985 pa ata nang namatay si annabel, sa ending ng pelikula pinuntahan mismo ni cesar si ruben sa bilibid para pakita iyon larawan ni annabel.

Anonymous said...

sad ending story to, npanood ko tong movie n to, habng gnwa ko tong comment ko katatapos ko lng mapnood. malaki ang kasalan ni ruben pero nkakalungkot prin dhil mahal ni ruben si annabelle un lng malki ang pagbabayran nia sa batas. dhil sa pagibig gnwa nia ang lahat mapaibig lng sia ng babaeng d sia mahal.

Anonymous said...

It was mentiomed in the movie namatay si Annabelle Huggins. Anong kinamatay ni nya? kailan sya namatay. until now kaya 2011 na nasa Bilibid pa rin si Ablaza?

Anonymous said...

NAKAKA-LUNGKOT LANG NA GINAWA NI RUBEN ABLAZA ANG LAHAT UPANG MAPA IBIG LANG ANG BBAENG KANYANG MINAMAHAL NA SI ANNABELLE HUGGINS SANA NAPANUOD DIN ITO NG MGA KAMAG ANAK NILA UPANG MALAMAN NILA NA ANG PAG MAMAHAL NI RUBEN ABLAZA AY TUNAY AT WAGAS.. DAHIL HANDA NYANG IPAG PALIT KAHIT ANG BUHAY NYA.. WALA NG LALAKENG GANYAN NGAYON. NATITIYAK KO NA MAS GUGUSTUHIN NI RUBEN NA SIYA ANG MAMATAY KESA SI ANNABELLE HUGGINS DAHIL MAHAL NA MAHAL NYA ITO... NAKAKA INSPIRE PO ANG PAG MAMAHAL AT PAG IBIG NYO MR.RUBEN ABLAZA

Anonymous said...

What do u mean nkaka-inspire?! Ikaw kaya ang dukutin at marape? O kaya miyembro ng pMilya mo?! Tingnan ko lang kung mainspire ka pa!! Stupid comments, even love cannot be made an excuse to abduct and rape a person!

Anonymous said...

Nothing abt what the criminal did is inspiring. He did not love her. How could he do such a heinous act to her if he did? Sarili nya lang mahal nya. Tapos after everything, during the trial he has the balls pa to deny? Asswipe.

Anonymous said...

Hanggang ngayon ay tanong pa rin ng karamihan kung nasaan na si annabelle,ang masasabi ko lang ay nasa lugar namin sya nakatira at may pamilya na rin.malalaki na rin ang mga anak at nasa japan pa ang isa.una ay nakasama nya ang dating sundalo at retire na ngayon ng PAF at nagkahiwalay din at ngayon ay kinakasama na rin ng isa pang sundalo ng PAF.Mabuti na ang kalagayan nya at kinakalimutan na nya ang lahat ng mga pangyayari sa buhay nya.

Anonymous said...

is she still alive? that wasn't how the story end.. she died in the story of her own life..

Anonymous said...

Rapist Nakakainspire daw??hahahah anong droga nasinghot niyan nagcomment na ganiyan hahahaha Puta gago bobo lol

Best Deal on Cars said...

kakapanood ko lang din haha 2014 na sa PBO..

Anonymous said...

nagmahal lang un tao sa maling paraan kawawa naman

Anonymous said...

What a stupid people commenting na kawawa at nag mahal lang. Gosh

Anonymous said...

Juice colored! Nkaka awa?! Si ruben? Saan banda?! Kayo nkaka awa mga isip bulate! ilagay niyo sarili nyo kay annabelle, yung dukutin kayo at halayin ng ilang beses, saka niyo sabihing nakaka awa si ruben. STUPID!

Anonymous said...

Tama hahaha dami nagcomment after ipalabas sa PBO..lol.. Oh deads na daw si Annabelle 1980's pa.. Ganda niya nga..hanapin na LA g sa YouTube mga pinaglumaang pelikula kung meron man. Obsessed yan ablaza..Hindi yan love..ang love dapat ingatan mo yung mahal mo..Hindi gahasain! May sakit sa utak yan..kita mo hunalikan pa picture sa ending ng movie..kakatakot siya ah!!he is mentally sick. Buti at mukha siyang butete ..guapo ni Cesar para gumanap..dapat si Sammy lagmay(rip) ang gumanap..mas kamukha eh..

Anonymous said...

Inaccurate kuento ni caparas..nagwawalis si Annabelle sa labas ng dukutin..Hindi nagaayos sa Ioob ng billiaran.yung Maggie de LA riva sa YouTube ganda rin..naalala ko napanuod ko yun sa sine kasama mom ko na paborito si Maggie kaya talagang pinanuod..

Anonymous said...

Namatay si Annabelle Huggins Story sa PBO lol

Unknown said...

Kaylan pa naging wagas na pagmamahal ang isabg convicted kidnapper at rapist.gamitin din ang utak walang matinong tao na nagmamahal ng wagas ang makakagawa ng mangrape.LIBog yon hindi pagmamahal at kahit kaylan never will lust be connected to love

Unknown said...

Kaylan pa naging wagas na pagmamahal ang isabg convicted kidnapper at rapist.gamitin din ang utak walang matinong tao na nagmamahal ng wagas ang makakagawa ng mangrape.LIBog yon hindi pagmamahal at kahit kaylan never will lust be connected to love

Unknown said...

hanggang Hindi nya pagsisihan any kasalanan ng lalaki n iyon before xa namatay...... Malamang sa malamang pinagbabayaran nya into as apoy na walang hanggan..... Tsaka abduction at rape its not love.dapat kusa.... Not only he ruined her life once but many times..... I also dispise his parents ..... To that lawyer and force signing of marriage contract..... Such abuse of technicalities.... Sa mga nakakainspire ? To ruin lives and abuse your will? Take a good look to yourself baka maging rapist kayo....... Sana bumalik and death penalty not for those normal and God feared person but to those who are sons of Satan's..... At pls read Koran bible to those who are convince n nakakainspire daw

Unknown said...

sir bjorne kktapos mo lng mnuod sa pbo anu ? sayang diko naumpisahan .. gofor death penalty ..

Unknown said...

sir bjorne kktapos mo lng mnuod sa pbo anu ? sayang diko naumpisahan .. gofor death penalty ..

Anonymous said...

Baliw sya Sa pagmamahal, grabe nakakaawa di anabelle ganun rin di Ruben...

Unknown said...

Kakapanood ko lang ng story ni Annabelle Huggins katatapos lang tama talaga na pagbayaran ni ruben un dapat talaga nasilya electrika sya..at sa ngayon parami ng parami ang mga rapist sa bansa natin kaya sana ipatupad na ulit ang death penalty sa pilipinas para di na dumami ang mga rapist..at isa pa ano ang cause ngbpagkamatay ni Annabelle Huggins?

Unknown said...

Kakapanood ko lang ng story ni Annabelle Huggins katatapos lang tama talaga na pagbayaran ni ruben un dapat talaga nasilya electrika sya..at sa ngayon parami ng parami ang mga rapist sa bansa natin kaya sana ipatupad na ulit ang death penalty sa pilipinas para di na dumami ang mga rapist..at isa pa ano ang cause ngbpagkamatay ni Annabelle Huggins?

Unknown said...

San ko po pwedeng panoorin ang full movie please... any link pls

Unknown said...

What the hell is wrong with these people? Bakit kay ablaza ang simpatya? Mga siraulo!
Kung mahal mo ang isang tao, hndi mo kayang saktan at pwersahin ito!
At sa earlier statement ni huggins, ung manggugulo sila sa billiard hall, sisirain ang felt table, magnanakaw ng billiard balls show a hint of ablazas bad behavior.
30 yrs in prison is not enough! He shud have lifetime imprisonment, and his soul should b rotten in hell.
No any woman or person should be treated any violence except criminals who deserve it

Unknown said...

Kakatuwa comment pero bawat isa may punta uu kaawa awa c anabelle at uu nkakaawa c ruben in a defferent way nkakaawa c anabelle dahil n rape xa ng taong d nya gusto..nakakaawa c ruben kc kahit p saplitn nya knuha katwan ni anabelle d nya prn nkuha puso ni anabele kung npanood nyo movie mkikita nyo n nuong una plang at hnggang sa huli mnhl nya c anabel ang torture at pnkprusa sa knya ung lht ng cnv n anabele tunay nya mhal c anbele dhil nsaktan xa at paulit ulit hmngi ng tawad raPIst xa uu pero iisang bbae lng at bnlk nya pksaln d tulad now mga rapist demonyo khit wala cla gusto basta mkramdam libog PPtay...dont too judgemental lht tau mksalnan nhusghn n c ruben at ang dyos gumwa ng way mprushn xa we need to be contented sa justice nangyri wag ng mag away away sa mga comment godless all

Unknown said...

it's a good story but it so sad Annabelle Huggins died. At last she got a justice. RUBEN ABLAZA YOUVE GOT WHAT YOU DESERVE!!!

Gagong lol said...

Kelan ba talaga namatay si annabelle? Panong mamamatay yun eh manika yun na pumapatay pa

Unknown said...

Ngayon ko lng napanood ang anbelle huggins story. Pero ano ba talaga ikinamatay ni anabelle huggins??

Anonymous said...

Kawawa silang pareho si Annabelle dahil nirape siya Ni Ruben, pero si Ruben nakakaawa din Mahal niya si Annabelle kaso making paraan ginawa niya, Hindi KELANMAN makukuha sa sapilitan ang pagmamahal mas masarap parin talaga Yung tunay na nararamdaman para sayo Ng babae Hindi Yung pilit lang, nakakaawa din si Ruben kaso talagang Mali ginawa niya e dapat Hindi nalang niya nirape niligawan nalang dapat niya bang tuloy tuloy baka pag may chance pa mainlove si Annabelle pag tumagal ang pangliligaw

Unknown said...

Hindi dahil mahal mo ang isang tao reason na yun para makasakit ka ng ibang tao at makagawa ng labag sa batas. Idaan sa tamang paraan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal dumadaan sa proseso hindi sa santong paspasan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal nagtutulungan hindi nagtataguan. Mahirap dayain ang puso at lalong mahirap matutunan mahalin ang taong ubod ng kasamahan.

Kapapanood ko ang Anabelle Huggins story sa pbo kanina lang šŸ˜‚

Anonymous said...

Kakapanood ko lang ng anabelle huggins story. Anong kinamatay ni Annabelle?

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