Romance in the dark halted as cops arrive

CEBU, Philippines – A woman with a mental condition was allegedly raped by a 33-year-old man in a dark portion of Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City on Sunday evening.

Police investigators from Basak Police Station said the woman, around her 20s, could hardly be identified as having a mental illness because she looked neat. She was said to be a resident of Cordova town.

According to Senior Inspector Juan Capacio, police received a tip from a concerned citizen telling them that the latter saw a certain Achilles Ababon making sexual advances to the woman. Ababon is said to have a wife and two children.

Ababon, a native of Dinagat Island who works in one of the companies inside Mactan Export Procession Zone 2, allegedly saw the mentally deranged woman sitting on a rock near a dark area in Sitio Ibabao.

Moments later, Ababon reportedly asked the woman if she wanted to have sex with him. The woman allegedly followed him to the dark.

However, Ababon's romance with the woman was cut short when minutes later, police arrived at the area.

Ababon was immediately arrested and the victim brought to police station.

Police Officer 2 Racquel Gacus-Cosim of the Women and Child's Protection Desk said as of now, the victim is under the custody of the city's Department of Social Welfare and Development and will undergo a test at a hospital's pink room.

Ababon is meanwhile behind bars now and he will be charged with rape after making sexual advances to the woman.