Pregnancy reveals alleged rape

CEBU, Philippines - A 21-year-old woman from Sitio Curtihan, Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan town, was reportedly raped by her 38-year-old relative several times, but it was only last Thursday when the family knew of the incident when they found out she was pregnant.

The family would not have known the victim is three months pregnant had she not complained of pain in her abdomen.

It was only then when the victim, who allegedly suffered from a mental illness, revealed she was raped by the suspect, which led her parents to seek police assistance.

The suspect was arrested in his house during a follow-up operation that same day.

PO1 Faith Rodrigo of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk said the last time the suspect allegedly raped the victim was last Tuesday around 10 a.m.

The victim was reportedly taken to a grassy lot just a few meters away from the suspect’s house and raped there.

Rodrigo said it was not the first time the suspect allegedly raped the victim, however, she could no longer determine the other times she was raped.

Rodrigo added that even neighbors of the victim noticed something suspicious about the suspect’s actions.

“Makit-an sila nga mag-uban nga magkuyog nga lain na pero wala lang sila,” Rodrigo said in a phone interview.

Last Thursday the victim complained of intense pain in her abdomen, her family took her to the municipal clinic and it was there she was found out to be three months pregnant.

The victim was taken to the Pink Room of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for a medical checkup.

Police are now preparing a criminal case against the suspect who is now detained at the Daanbantayan Police Station stockade.    - THE FREEMAN