Gender-based violence complaint keeps woman in Manoguayabo on edge
A case of gender-based violence has raised alarms in Manoguayabo, where 43-year-old Damaris Severino has made a desperate plea to the authorities after reporting a history of threats, stalking, and physical assaults that, she claims, have endangered her physical safety.
The complainant identified her ex-partner, 25-year-old Marco Antonio Cabrera, as the person responsible for these acts. According to Severino’s testimony, the two were in a romantic relationship from 2023 until the end of 2024, a period during which she alleges she was a victim of physical and sexual violence. Among the most serious incidents mentioned by the woman, she highlights an episode in which Cabrera allegedly strangled and physically assaulted her, in addition to forcing her to engage in sexual relations under threats.
A cycle of constant harassment
Although Severino initially filed a formal complaint, she decided to drop the case due to the intervention of the aggressor’s relatives, who promised mediation. However, far from ceasing, Cabrera’s behavior allegedly escalated into systematic harassment. The woman recounts that the subject frequently appeared at her residence, destroyed her cell phone, and, in a highly serious incident, put her life at risk while they were traveling on a motorcycle.
The situation reached a critical point when, after attempting to take refuge in the Cristo Rey sector, Cabrera managed to locate her through a constant series of intimidating calls and messages. This event forced the victim to go to the Santo Domingo Oeste Prosecutor’s Office once again, resulting in her transfer to a shelter.
I cannot live with that paranoia, hiding as if I had killed someone.
Damaris Severino
Protection requirement
Severino expressed her deep frustration regarding the release of her aggressor, questioning the lack of effective protective measures to guarantee her safety. The woman rejects any version that attempts to downplay the gravity of the reported events and maintains that her current state is one of constant anxiety, living in permanent fear of being intercepted by her ex-partner.
Currently, the complainant is requesting that the competent authorities conduct an exhaustive review of her file and implement security mechanisms that will allow her to resume her life without the constant fear of retaliation. So far, no official response has been obtained from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, nor has a version of the events been provided by the accused.
