By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

ASSOCIATE Judge Ramona V. Manglona imposed bail of $51,500 on a 40-year-old man arrested yesterday morning on Rota for sexually assaulting a friend.
Kent William A. Atalig of Songsong was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing in Superior Court yesterday.
The preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. while the arraignment will be held on March 5, also at 9 am..
The Department of Public Safety-Rota affidavit stated that in early Dec. 2006, police received a call of possible sexual assault incident that took place at the Atalig’s residence.
The victim told a detective that prior to the incident, she and her friends, including the defendant, went to a friend’s farewell party.
The victim and her friends used the defendant’s truck and went to the party.
The victim said she knew the defendant through her aunt. The defendant, she said, would often go to her aunt’s store and spend time talking to her aunt.
After the party, Atalig, the victim and another female friend proceeded to a bar for a couple of drinks.
Afterward, the group proceeded to a village to drop off their female friend.
On the way home to their friend’s house, the victim fell asleep and didn’t notice that the female friend had gotten out of the defendant’s truck.
The victim told DPS-Rota that when she woke up later, the vehicle was parked in front of Atalig’s residence and he was on top of her.
The victim said she tried to push Atalig away, but failed because she was too tired and weak.
The victim fell asleep afterward and later felt herself being carried by Atalig.
He carried her to his room and laid her on his bed then went out of the room to get some water.
The victim got up from the bed and crawled to another room occupied by a couple who were friends.
The victim knocked on her friend’s room and told them that she had been raped by Atalig.
The DPS affidavit stated that Atalig was also interviewed and he claimed he and the victim were left in his truck by their friend to talk.
He said the victim accused him of having an affair with the other friend and after he explained to her that there was nothing going on between that woman and him, the victim hugged him and they kissed each other and had sex in the truck.
Atalig said he stopped when the victim told him to stop.
He then left and went inside his house for a drink of water and when he came back to the vehicle the victim was sleeping.
Atalig said he asked the victim if she wanted to be dropped home but she replied no, so he said he decided to carry her into his room.