5-month-old girl abducted, raped

TACLOBAN CITY - Couple Eduardo and Alicia Villamor were both full of excitement as they made preparations for the baptism of their five-month-old girl on March 4.

But now, two weeks before the baptism, the Villamors' excitement has turned to anger and depression as they watch their fifth child - a victim of rape - at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center.

The baby, born on Sept. 4 last year, was allegedly abducted by a 22-year-old former ice cream vendor, Pamuel Awit Magno, and then raped at the city's Plaza Libertad on Trece Martires street on the night of Feb. 20.

Police filed charges of abduction with rape against Magno with the city prosecutor's office last Tuesday.

Doctors at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center, led by Ma. Melissa Gagala and Salud Rosillo, had to perform a "vaginal repair" operation on the child because of lacerations she sustained during the rape. At least five stitches had to be made on the girl's genitals.

Initial investigation showed that Magno allegedly snatched the baby from the Villamors' home in Barangay 25 Paterno Extension at about 8:30 p.m. last Sunday.

Magno then allegedly brought her to Plaza Libertad where the rape took place.

Eduardo Villamor, 38, said her child was seized when his wife Alicia, 21, left her in the custody of their two other children aged six and two.

"Nag-andam man hiya han among makaka-un hadto nga gab-i (She was preparing for our food that night)," he said. Alicia cooked their meal at her mother's house about two meters away from their residence.

"Amo na adto an iya pagsulod ngadto han amon balay (That was the time when he - Magno - went inside our house)," Eduardo said.

Superintendent Doroteo Palconit, city police chief, said Magno was drunk when he allegedly barged into the Villamors' home and snatched the baby.

Police records show that a barangay chairperson, Teresa Tingzon, informed the lawmen about a child who was found by her tanods at the plaza.

The baby was half-naked and lying on a concrete bench, her private part bleeding.

"Ipabitay kun bibitayon ito. Bangin damo pa ito ita iya mabiktima (Hang him so that will prevent him from victimizing others)," Eduardo said.

Donations and assistance continued to pour in for the Villamors. Leyte Vice Gov. Trinidad Apostol visited the child last Tuesday and pledged to shoulder the medical expenses.

Magno's employer, who wanted to be identified only as Danny, said Magno "should not be condemned too harshly."

A resident of the city's reclamation area, Magno is the eldest of six children of a couple from Digos, Davao del Norte. He lost contact with his five siblings when he went to Leyte.

Danny said Magno is suffering from the trauma of his parents being massacred when he was 10 years old.