Question: Sexually abused by our kasambahay when I was 10–12, now 24. No evidence. Is there anything I can still do?
I really need guidance and I don't know where else to start.
When I was around 10 to 12 years old, our male[27] kasambahay sexually abused me multiple times. He would watch me undress after showering, and on several occasions made me lie naked on the bed while he touched my genitals and breasts and took photos with his keypad phone. He told me he was "checking for a disease" because my private parts felt "hot," and said his phone camera could "x-ray" my body to see inside. I was a really reserved and clueless kid and I believed him. I was genuinely worried I was sick.
One time my younger brother knocked on the door while this was happening. I innocently told the kasambahay he should probably check my brother too in case he had the same "disease." He refused and said only I had it. That detail haunts me now, I realize this could've made him target my brother also too, but thank god he didn't.
For context: my mom was an OFW in Japan, my dad was neglectful and had just been served a restraining order, and this kasambahay was actually my dad's friend whom he hired because he didn't want to do housework. When my mom came home, she pulled me and my brother out and brought us to our relatives. The abuse stopped there.
I have no physical evidence. No photos, no messages, no witnesses. I never told anyone at the time. I'm 24 now and I've never had peace about this.
I did tell my mom about it, a few years after, she was angry for a bit, she looked for this kasambahay from our former kapitbahays, they said that he had moved places they had no idea where he is now.
My questions:
- Is it too late to do anything about this legally, given how many years have passed?
- Does it matter that I have no proof — only my own memory of what happened?
- What would the first step even look like? Who do I approach?
- Are there free or low-cost lawyers, NGOs, or government offices that handle cases like this for adult survivors?
If he can't be found anymore, is there still anything I can pursue?
Thank you for anyone willing to help.
Note: Full disclosure, I had help from AI with curating this post, but all the details are real, I just didn't want it to be convoluted.
EDIT: Thank you everyone sa mga insights nyo, it has been more than helpful and have given me so much confidence to proceed with this, I only chose to speak up now kasi akala ko wala ng pagasa kasi wala akong physical proof.
Nag email na ko sa PAO, I will also try to reach out sa Tisya Hustisya as suggested. I am also on the process of making detailed accounts of what happened and when it happened. I am determined to do everything I can to get him behind bars.