Retired US Navy serviceman, Filipino pal face rape charges

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 yesterday filed before the City Prosecution Office a rape charge against a retired US Navy serviceman and his Filipino friend.

Senior Superintendent Jacob Macabali. CIDG-8 director, said the respondents were pinpointed by the 34-year-old victim, a resident of San Jose district of this city.

The complaint revealed that, at about 3 a.m. last March 13 or about five days after the American arrived in the city, the Filipino friend dragged his first-degree cousin into the comfort room at the second floor of the house of the victim’s aunt at Barangay 88 of San Jose district, and it was there that the sexual molestation took place, allegedly committed by the two accused.

The CIDG report showed that the complaint was supported by a joint affidavit of the victim, joint judicial affidavit of  arrest, medico-legal report, and excerpts of CIDG blotter, among others, which will be presented when the prosecutions office finds probable cause in raising the case to court.

Last March 15, or two days after the alleged rape, the CIDG team in coordination with the Tacloban City Police entered the Billiard and KTV Bar along Real Street, this city, and arrested the two suspects and brought them to the CIDG where they were temporarily detained.

In a brief interview inside the detention cell, the American suspect told The Freeman he had no knowledge about the crime committed.

“I am here for vacation as tourist and I never committed any crime here and in other country,” he insisted. —(FREEMAN)