1972: The rapists of Maggie dela Riva
May 17th, 2009 Headsman
On this date in 1972, Jaime Jose, Basilio Pineda and Edgardo Aquino were electrocuted* in Muntinlupa for the gang-rape of actress Maggie de la Riva (or dela Riva) five years before.
The rising young actress had scarcely wavered after the assault before courageously making the always-fraught rape charge against a quartet** of attackers themselves from elite families. (The particulars are recounted in the Supreme Court ruling.)
J’accuse! Maggie de la Riva identifies two of the culprits just five days after her gang rape. Talk about facing your accuser; according to the accompanying article, “the frail-looking mestiza was a picture of righteous indignation as she extended her arms, showed her bruises, and asked Pineda, pointedly: ‘Do you remember these?’”
The case was a media sensation from day one. The Philippine film blog Video 48 republished a three-part series on the rapists’ capture (parts 1 and 2) and execution (part 3), complete with the desperate efforts of the offenders’ families to save them.
The victim herself continued her acting career.
Decades later, she’s still a public personality, and seems to have made peace with and moved on from her famous ordeal with impressive equanimity.
When that misfortune happened to me, I realized that although my body was raped my true self was never defiled and that there’s another person in me that’s beautiful, strong and true. The old Maggie has faded away. I look at my experience as something that happened to someone else who is no longer the person I am today. (Source)
* The Philippines adopted use of the electric chair in the early 20th century from the U.S., its colonial ruler at the time. It’s the only country besides the United States to have used the chair.
** One of the four condemned to death for the rape, Rogelio Canial, died in prison of a drug overdose several months before the executions.
Also On This Date
Possibly Related Executions
- 1936: Bruno Richard Hauptmann, The Most Hated Man in the World
- 1997: Henry Francis Hays, whose crime cost the Klan
- 1989: Ted Bundy, psycho killer
Entry Filed under: 20th Century, Capital Punishment, Common Criminals, Crime, Death Penalty, Electrocuted, Execution, History, Notable for their Victims, Philippines, Popular Culture, Rape
Tags: 1970s, 1972, basilio pineda, edgardo aquino, jaime jose, maggie de la riva, maggie dela riva, may 17
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4 Comments Add your own
1. Percival O. Flores | May 21st, 2009 at 6:40 am
I remember vividly the day when the three rapists were executed. I was 8 years old then. It happned in the middle of our summer vacation. I recall it was a hot day. All radio sets appeared to be glued on the accounts of the condemned men’s electrocution, from Jaime Jose’s fainting and being revived by ammonia down to the detail of their last lunch. According to accounts they would have had all the Filipino delicacies and even ice cream for dessert, but they wouldn’t eat and just smoked cigarettes. First to go was Jaime Jose, then Basilio Pineda, and finally Edgardo Aquino. Mothers and grandmothers had a field day lecturing to the kids to behave lest they suffer the same fate as the three executed convicts.
2. marissa de la fuente | September 19th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
i remember that day cause all of the philippines was glued to the radio as each of these men walked to their death,I have high respect for Miss Maggie de la Riva even to this day,i now live in the U.S. and still for me she is i considered admirable for her courage and bravery to stand against her attackers and their families,Thanks for the late President Marcos for standing and believing Miss Maggie de la Riva.
3. james | September 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
i was born 1979 but i knew the case coz my grand father told us about the case. our interest are more on the old issues that struck the philippines. we even watched the movie potrayed by dawn zulueta by carlo caparas.
4. MAY ANN ORTIZ | October 6th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I’m so proud to miss maggie dela riva she so amazing person,.i have a high respect for miss maggie i’m so pround of u mam and i’m sure all of the pilipino who watch ur story potrayed by dawn zulueta is crying because it is a true to life story……good bless miss maggie take care of ur self….
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