'Gang rape' in Poro victim points at boyfriend, seven others as perpetrators

CEBU, Philippines - At least eight men, including the victim’s 18-year-old boyfriend, allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in Barangay Cagcagan in Poro Island, Camotes last Thursday.

Accompanied by her uncle, the girl reported the incident to the police last Friday. The girl alleged that the suspects took turns in raping her and played with her private part with a lighted cigarette.

Police have arrested three suspects, including the girl’s boyfriend, the boyfriend’s 22-years-old cousin and another 20-year-old man. The girl said the other men were adults but she did not recognize them.

Due to the nature of the crime, The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the suspects until formal charges are filed against them in court.

Based on the girl’s statement, Insp. Bernabe Coyoca of the Poro Police Station said everything started when the boyfriend asked the girl to walk with him by the beach at around 11:30 pm.

The girl agreed but was surprised when her boyfriend later took her inside a hut near the shore and forcefully had sex with her despite her objection. The hut was about 150 meters away from the nearest house so no one would have heard the victim even if she shouted, Coyoca said.

The girl was surprised further when several other men appeared later and took turns in raping her. She said her objections were nothing compared to the suspects’ physical strength.

The girl was made to undergo examination at the pink room of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to ascertain if she was indeed raped.

Coyoca said the girl appeared severely traumatized and could not answer questions straight during interrogation.

“Usahay lagi ug pangutan-on dili mutarong ug tubag. Mulikoy gamay. Pero doctor ra g’yud makatubag ug naa ba siya’y deperensiya sad,” he said.

It was also found out that the victim was already orphaned and is under her uncle’s care.

Coyoca said the suspects refused to cooperate.

A follow-up investigation is underway to identify and arrest the other suspects.  (FREEMAN)