17-year-old girl allegedly raped by construction worker in Quezon City

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a construction worker while on her way home last Saturday evening in Quezon City.

According to James Agustin’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, CCTV footage showed a man following the victim, who was walking in Barangay Silangan, and approached her.

Investigation showed the man seemed drunk and he forced the Grade 12 student to go with him to a vacant lot where the crime was committed. The victim just came from shopping for food and school supplies, the report also said.

“Noong sinundan siya ng suspect, inakbayan siya at tinutukan ng patalim. Siyempre, nagsisigaw yung biktima kaya sinabihan siya ng suspect na, ‘Huwag kang maingay, papatayin kita.’ At pagkatapos po nun, dinala po niya doon sa  isang madilim na lugar, sa loob din ng subdivision, at doon nangyari ang krimen,” said Police Major Gilbert Caducano, officer-in-charge of Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station.

(When the suspect followed her, he placed his arm around her and pointed a knife at her. Of course, the victim was screaming so the suspect told her, ‘Don’t make any noise, I’ll kill you.’ And after that, he took her to a dark place, also inside the subdivision, and that’s where the crime was committed.)

The suspect even asked money from the victim after the sexual assault, according to the report.

At midnight, the victim and the suspect were both caught on CCTV entering a convenience store.

“Initially, nagbigay si victim ng P66 and then nakulangan yata yung suspek, nanghingi pa ng additional. Kaya nagpunta sila sa convenience store para mag-cash out. Since may mga tao doon sa convenience store, doon po nakahingi ng tulong ang biktima,” said Caducano.

(Initially, the victim gave him P66 but the suspect was not satisfied with it and asked for more. So they went to a convenience store to cash out. Since there were people in the convenience store, the victim was able to ask for help.)

The CCTV footage also showed that the victim sought help from a passing motorist and even pointed to the suspect. The 32-year-old suspect was arrested after a police car making rounds at that time arrived.

The police also found in the vacant lot the knife that the suspect used to threaten the victim.

The suspect admitted to his crimes.

“Nagsisisi po ako sa aking nagawa. Sobra po sir dahil ka anuhan ng alak. Sana po mapatawad nila ako sa aking nagawa,” he said.

(I’m very sorry for what I’ve done. I really feel sorry because I was drunk at that time. I hope they can forgive me for what I’ve done.)

A rape complaint was filed against the suspect while the victim is undergoing counseling. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News