Rape suspect arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Police have caught up with the man who allegedly abducted and raped a 16-year-old college student, at midday yesterday in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

Senior Insp. Ma. Theresa Macatangay, chief of the Regional Anti-human Trafficking Task Force (RATTF), identified the suspect as Frederick Benedict Go.

Macatangay said Go’s arrest was made possible through the information given by witnesses and the positive identification of the victim herself, who luckily escaped from the suspect in last Wednesday’s abduction.

“He was positively identified by the victim based on the photo found in the place where she was allegedly taken and raped last Wednesday,” said Macatangay yesterday.

After learning of Go’s whereabouts, Macatangay said they proceeded to Mambaling and arrested the suspect who was sitting at an eatery in San Antonio Village, Tabada Extension.

The suspect even tried to resist arrest but police were able to apprehend him, said Macatangay. The RATFF chief said they are still looking for four other men who were reportedly with Go when they abducted the minor.

“We’re still looking for these people but the case is now solved kay nadakpan na man ang leader,” Macatangay said.

Go, she further disclosed, is a drug personality with no specific address. Because of his illegal drug activities, Go transfers from one place to another, Macatangay further said.

The victim said Go and four other men abducted her near a mall in Barangay West Poblacion, Naga City last Wednesday afternoon. She was reportedly then taken to a farm house in Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay in Cebu City where Go allegedly raped her.

Macatangay said the medical test conducted on the victim showed that there were no lacerations found in her genitals, which would have indicated that she was indeed raped.

“But there are cases na wala’y laceration makit-an, but positively nahilabtan g’yud,” the RATTF chief said further.

The girl and her parents were at the RATTF office yesterday but refused to face the media for an interview. Macatangay said, though, that the parents were pleased with the quick arrest of the suspects. The girl will temporarily stop from school this year following her ordeal, her parents said.

Before Go, his alleged cohorts Jojo Gimarangan and Joey Dela Cruz, both 19 and natives of Negros Occidental, have been arrested for bringing firearms with them. The victim confirmed their presence in the vicinity of the place where she was taken.

Macatangay said they may consider Gimarangan and Dela Cruz as witnesses if they come out to help the victims. The RATTF chief called on again the two other female victims who were allegedly abducted as well last Wednesday to come forward and report the incident.

Go declined to answer questions from reporters who tried to get his side.

“Ako na lang abogado motubag ana. Sa korte na ko moatubang,” Go said, denying the report that he is son of a former Talisay City councilor. (Let my lawyer answer that.)

Go will face charges for illegal detention, abduction, and rape in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. – (FREEMAN)