13-year-old allegedly raped by 29-year-old she met online

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man whom she met online and who threatened to end their relationship if she didn't have sex with him.

According Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras", the PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group arrested the 29-year-old suspect who is now facing charges of statutory rape and grave coercion.

The two had a relationship after meeting on Facebook. They personally met for the first time on July 10, 2022.

“Ang pananakot niya kay victim is that ‘If you do not agree to have sex with me, then itigil na natin 'to.' Siyempre bata, ayaw niya...alam mo 'yun. So she gave in,” Police Lieutenant Michelle Reynes Sabino, PNP-ACG Spokesperson, said.

(He threatened the victim that if she would not have sex with him, they would stop their relationship. She is young… so she gave in.)

The suspect will also be facing raps for violating the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act after he allegedly threatened to share her sensitive photos and videos.

“Ang statutory rape po ay napakabigat na kaso at walang bail siya. Baka akala ninyo ganoon-ganoon na lang makipag-relationship sa mga bagets,” said Sabino.

(Statutory rape is a heavy charge and this is non-bailable. You might think it's a small matter to have a relationship with minors.)

The suspect Argie Lumocso denied the accusations.

“Hindi ko po 'yan pinilit na makipagtalik, magpuwersa... Hindi po. Ang pagkakamali ko menor kasi. Kagustuhan naman namin na mangyari yung gan'on,” Lumocso said.

(I never forced her. My only mistake is that she is a minor.)

Based on the report of the PNP-ACG, reported cases of child abuse, child pornography and gender-based harassment in the Philippines stood at 313 from 2019 to June 30, 2022.

It peaked amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with 109 cases.

Police advised both parents and minors to remain vigilant in social media.

“Kayong mga bata, you are always into social media. Mag-ingat kayo diyan kasi hindi lahat ng nami-meet niyo diyan ay totoo. Hindi niyo alam ang implications niyan,” Sabino said.

(Kids are always into social media. You should be careful because not everyone you meet is true. You don’t know its implications.) -Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News