Woman cries rape in Medellin; another found floating dead at sea

CEBU, Philippines - Three men and a 17-year-old minor are now in detention after a 20-year-old mentally-challenged woman pointed to them as among those who allegedly raped her evening the other day in barangay Lamintak Sur in the northern town of Medellin.

The supposed victim was accompanied by her relatives to the Medellin police station to report the incident.

Chief Insp. Bonifacio Arriesgado of the Medellin Police told dySS that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ricky Lanurias, 30, Edison Lanurias, 25, Enriquito Bohol, 20, and the 17-year-old minor. Another suspect, a certain Roy Sabala, eluded arrest. All five are reportedly caretakers of mango trees in sitio Panas, barangay Lamintak Sur.

The complainant alleged that the suspects raped her under a mango tree.

Arriesgado said appropriate charges will be filed against the suspects after the complaint undergoes medical examination at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“Kuan man gyud siya…dali lang kaayong mokuyog ug mga tawo…bisan gani tagaan nimo’g candy mokuyog ni tungod kay dunay deperensya sa paingisip. Gani, kining mga suspetsado nga silingan lang sa biktima, gipasidan-an pa gani kini sa igsoon sa biktima nga ayaw tawon ninyo binuangi akong igsoon kun mugawas og balay” Arriesgado said.

In a separate interview, Ricky strongly denied the allegations and pointed to Bohol as the one who allegedly raped the complainant. Lanurias also said he is willing to become a state witness should a case be eventually filed.

Lanurias admitted having taken a few shots of liquor at that time when he reportedly saw Bohol and the victim along the road. Minutes later, both reportedly disappeared so he went back to drink with the other suspects.

Later, Bohol and the complainant reportedly arrived together with Bohol saying that they were not far away. The drinking spree continued, but when he was about to go home, Ricky said he saw Bohol allegedly raping the complainant few meters away.

Meanwhile, the body of a woman also believed to be mentally-challenged was found floating in the seawaters in barangay Mambaling in Cebu City. The woman was estimated to be 50 years old.

Investigation revealed that the woman might have died of drowning, as she was reportedly seen going into a pond that opens into the sea near the University of Cebu before her body was found.  

In fact, Justino Otom, a resident of the area, reportedly warned her not to go far because she might get trapped in the mud and drown.

However, the woman reportedly did not heed the warning and, instead, allegedly pointed fingers at Otom and to other people who also took notice before going deeper into the water. Residents in the area said they saw the woman there only yesterday.

She was later found floating face down, already naked. The woman’s remains were taken to the Saint Francis Funeral Homes. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)