High school class president "tries to rape" 34-year-old Two minors raped in two other incidents

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a 17-year-old boy for reportedly trying to rape a 34-year-old woman inside a comfort room near St. Anne Shrine in Barangay Poblacion, Barili last Sunday.

The suspect is a second year high school student and class president at a national high school while the woman is a resident of Lapu-Lapu City.

The woman went to the town to surprise her sister who married someone from Barili, said SPO4 Elsa Albuera, chief of Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the Barili Police Station.

The victim decided to attend the 4 p.m. mass at St. Anne Shrine before going to her sister’s house. She went to the nearby public comfort room and saw the suspect at the men’s comfort room.

The comfort room, built of concrete, had no ceiling. She was urinating when she saw the suspect above her and hit her head twice with a hard wood. She fell and felt dizzy while the suspect came to her side and struck her head again.

The suspect then took her pants and underwear off but the woman managed to get outside.

Churchgoers noticed the commotion and took the victim to the hospital. She was transferred to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital in Cebu City and had five stitches in her head. She was released from the hospital last Wednesday.

Police arrested the suspect inside their house in Barangay Maghanoy. He was charged for attempted rape and frustrated murder last Tuesday.

Albuera said the suspect’s teachers cried upon knowing the incident. They could not believe the suspect can do such. The student, Albuera said, is also good looking.

Records from the barangay showed that the suspect was reported for sneaking on women, according to the police. During tactical interrogation, the suspect said that when he saw the victim, something whispered in his ear to rape the woman.

In another incident, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office recommended no bail against a man accused of raping a 14-year old girl.

Prosecutor Maria Theresa Calibugan-Casiño said that after a careful evaluation of the complaint and the evidence, there is probable cause to charge the respondent for raping his wife’s niece.

In her sworn statement, the victim, a native of Zamboanga, said she helps the couple with their cellular phone and carenderia business.

One time, she was on a motorcycle with her uncle-in-law when he suddenly took her to a motel and molested her. Her cries and struggles were no match to his strength, she added. The incident was repeated several times and her uncle warned her not to tell anyone.

A separate rape incident was also reported by an eight-year-old girl in barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City.

Although the incident took place last August 26, it was reported to the Subangdaku Police station only last Wednesday.

According to the child, she was on her way to her cousins’ house to play when their neighbor, 18-year-old Rhoden Banticel, grabbed her and molested her. A cousin of the girl arrived and saw what happened.

The victim’s father learned about the incident only recently and reported it to the police. A rape case was already filed against the suspect who is still at large.

— Mylen P. Manto, Flor Z.Perolina and Niña G. Sumacot/JPM