Victim in PUP gang rape 'missing' - school president

MANILA, Philippines - The 16-year-old student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) who was allegedly gang-raped last June has gone incommunicado with school officials. PUP president Dante Guevarra said late Tuesday that he had lost contact with the girl and her family, who he said moved out of their last known address in Pasay City. "Umalis na ang buong pamilya sa bahay na yan kung saan sila nangungupahan. Hindi na alam kung saang lugar sila nagtungo (She and her family left their house in Pasay City. I don't know where they went)," Guevarra said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said the school guidance counselor had been trying to locate the girl since she fainted during a face-off with her alleged attackers. Guevarra said the counselor was told the girl was at the Philippine General Hospital. But at the PGH, the counselor was told the girl was with the Social Welfare Department (DSWD). The DSWD told the counselor the girl was in her home in Pasay City, but when the counselor checked, they were no longer there. Citing initial investigation, Guevarra said at least three males molested the girl after drugging her during a drinking spree. A fourth suspect, a female, allegedly invited her to the drinking. Guevarra said that until now, investigators still could not determine if the molesting took place inside or outside the PUP campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila. "Ang huling balita natin magkakaroon ng preliminary investigation sa July 29 (The last news we heard was that the preliminary investigation will be on July 29)," he said. In the meantime, Guevarra said the PUP management has tightened security, with faculty checkers complementing security guards and students required to wear IDs inside the campus. - GMANews.TV