Rape suspect nabbed at birthday party after 9 years

A man was arrested at a birthday party in Taytay, Rizal for allegedly raping a minor nine years ago.

In Emil Sumangil’s "24 Oras" report, the Special Maritime Response Team first asked for the 55-year-old man’s ID before handcuffing him as he was drunk.

“Actually may warrant of arrest ito, since 2015 pa, base sa krimen na kanyang nagawa na rape,” Philippine National Police Maritime Group Director Police Brigadier General Jonathan Cabal said.

(Actually, there is a warrant of arrest since 2015, based on the crime he did, which was rape.)

The victim, who was minor at the time of the crime, is the suspect’s neighbor in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

“Nabutis ito, at ngayon ang bata is 8 years old,” Cabal said. “Meron naman pag amin itong suspek. Hindi nga niya alam, na meron siyang anak na 8 years old.”

(The victim got pregnant and the child is 8 years old now. The suspect somehow admitted. He did not even know that he has an 8-year-old kid.)

According to the suspect, he did not force the victim since they have a relationship.

“Maganda ang pagsasama namin, hindi ko hinalay o hindi ko ni-rape,” the suspect said.

(We have a good relationship. I did not rape her.)

The sibling of the victim contradicted the suspect’s claim.

“Bago siya nagsabi sa akin, mga ilang months muna. Natatakot daw siya at baka magalit. Sunod nagsabi siya sakin na, ganito ginahasa ako ng isang lasing pangalan niya ganyan,” the sibling of the victim said.

(Months passed before my sister told me of the incident. She is afraid that the man may get mad. She then told me that she was raped by a drunk man and then named him.)

She added that the incident happened after the victim was buying cigarettes.

“Hinawakan daw yung kamay niya tapos tinutukan daw siya ng kutsilyo,”the sibling of the victim said.

(She told me that the suspect held her hands and pointed a knife at her.) 

The suspect is set to be taken to Eastern Samar. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News