Man charged for rape of high school student

Rape charges were filed yesterday before the court against a 27-year-old man who was accused of raping a high school student last year.

Although Hector Sencio, a resident of barangay Pardo, admitted having sex with the 15-year-old student of a night high school, he claimed that they both agreed to it since they were lovers.

Sencio said he is willing to marry the girl, but the city prosecutor who investigated the case described his move as gimmick because he is already married.

The prosecutor rejected Sencio's claim that he did not rape the girl, giving instead more credence to the complainant's version that the accused sexually abused her after he brought her to Cebu City South Coastal Road.

The victim said the suspect even lied to her that his name was Benjie Panciona. She only knew his real name after the police arrested him on July 26, 2005.

Sencio reportedly befriended the girl through text messages and then began to fetch her after her classes.

On July 22, 2005, Sencio allegedly fetched the victim from her class and brought her near a beach reportedly to go swimming. But when she turned down the invitation, the accused drove the vehicle and brought her to another place.

Inside the vehicle, the suspect allegedly started to kiss, embrace and touch her private parts. The victim tried to resist, but the accused pulled out a gun and told her: "Unsay gusto nimo, patyon tika?"

The following morning, the victim was dropped by the accused near the Punta Princesa church. The accused was arrested after the victim reported to the police and sent him a text message pretending that she wanted to meet him again. - Rene U. Borromeo