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Pastor who allegedly raped minor multiple times nabbed in Zambales


Police on Friday arrested a pastor at a church in Botolan, Zambales for allegedly raping a minor multiple times.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” the suspect, identified as Richard Elmin, was a pastor and a church leader of a congregation.

The victim was a member of their church in Oriental Mindoro.

Authorities said the pastor repeatedly raped the minor on different dates. The Zambales Philippine National Police (PNP) said the sexual assaults occurred in 2014.

That same year, the child’s parents filed a complaint against him.

The suspect then ran to hide in Zambales, where he was discovered by authorities.

“Meron kasing information ang Municipal Police Station na siya ay nagtatago dito sa Zambales. Kaya nakipag coordinate sila dito sa amin,” Colonel Roman Cardiño of the Zambales PNP said.

(There was information from the municipal police station that he is hiding here in Zambales. So they coordinated with us.)

“Sa tulong ng ating barangay information network at ng komunidad ay natagpuan natin ang kaniyang pinagtataguan dito sa Municipality ng Botolan,” he added.

(With the help of our barangay network and the community, we were able to locate the suspect in Botolan.)

Police said the pastor hid with the help of his family.

The suspect has been turned over to the Oriental Mindoro PNP.

He declined to comment.

“According to the suspect ay hindi na muna siya magbibigay ng payahag dahil sabi niya meron siyang right to privacy,” he said.

(He said he will refrain from giving a statement because he has a right to privacy.)

The suspect is facing five counts of rape. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News

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