Presence of passerby foils assault on girl, 13

CEBU, Philippines - A 13-year-old girl escaped certain death thanks to a passerby who saw her about to be strangled by a man early morning yesterday in a grassy area in barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.

The girl and two of her sisters were on their way to school when she told them to go ahead as she had to answer the call of nature.

According to PO2 Violeta Godinez, while the girl was relieving herself, a man approached her and inquired whether she knew a certain person he was looking for.

When she said she didn’t know the person, the man walked away but quickly came back, grabbed her arm, dragged her to a grassy area, and ripped her dress.

He then raised her torn dress to her neck and was about to strangle her with it when a passerby appeared, foiling the attacker’s plans.

The man ran down a slope to escape.

After the incident, the girl and her mother went to the police. (FREEMAN)