Phoebe Fructuoso recounts harrowing assault at 18, shares how she fought for justice for eight years

• Phoebe Fructuoso revealed she was assaulted by people she considered friends at 18
• She pursued the case for eight years until one of the accused was imprisoned
• The PAVE Philippines founder detailed how she endured trauma and sought justice
• Friends and fellow cheerleaders helped her find courage to speak up and heal

Actress and PAVE Philippines founder Phoebe Fructuoso bravely opened up about a dark chapter in her life — being sexually assaulted by her supposed friends when she was just 18 years old.

She also shared how she endured the trauma and pursued justice for eight years until one of the perpetrators was finally jailed.

In her guest appearance on Kara David’s podcast "i-Listen," Phoebe recalled the night of the incident and the aftermath that followed.

“Actually 'yung house ko po, madami pang CCTV. Nakita po namin 'yung exact na paghatid, pagbaba ko, hanggang pagpasok ng bahay, pag-akyat sa stairs on how traumatized I really looked nu'ng pag-uwi,” she recounted.

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Phoebe admitted she didn’t tell her family right away, saying, “I actually didn't tell my family din po for two weeks. Kasi kahit ako po, hindi ko din po ma-process na ano po talaga nangyari. So I still went to school, but I broke down when I saw them in school.”

She said her attackers avoided her after the incident, and the emotional burden grew heavier.

As a cheerleader then, her teammates eventually noticed her distress.

“They’re the first ones that pointed it out, ‘Phoebe, what’s wrong?’ … Nu’ng nakita ko sila, that’s when I broke down,” she said.

Her friends encouraged her to seek help and stand up for herself. Through faith, courage, and determination, Phoebe turned her pain into purpose — founding Promoting Awareness & Victors Empowerment (PAVE) Philippines to support survivors like her.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable to one's daily life. These stories are among those that people would be able to learn from every day, and apply them in their own lives.

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In other news, a lawyer was arrested in Quezon City for allegedly duping victims through fake investment offers. She reportedly took ₱140,000 from a couple, promising weekly profits of ₱5,600. Police said she had previously been jailed for a similar case but went into hiding after posting bail. Authorities urge other victims to file complaints to elevate the case to syndicated estafa.

Still in other news, a classroom ceiling at Lapu-Lapu Elementary School in Davao City collapsed during class on October 7, 2025. Approximately 40 Grade 4 students sustained minor injuries but were safely evacuated. The quick execution of the 'duck, cover, and hold' drill by the teacher helped prevent serious harm. School authorities have reported the incident to DepEd and DPWH, and the school has shifted to a blended learning setup.

Source: KAMI.com.gh