Man indicted for ‘sexually abusing’ minor textmate

CEBU, Philippines – The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has indicted a 23-year-old man for sexual abuse after allegedly molesting a 17-year-old girl textmate.

Prosecutor III Rodulph Joseph Val Carillo held for trial Robert Ocapan, a resident of Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

“There is insufficient evidence to charge respondent with rape, however, respondent should be charged with a violation of Section 5 (b) of RA 7610 of having sexual intercourse with a minor subjected to other sexual abuse,” the document read.

Carillo recommended P200,000 bail for Ocapan’s temporary liberty.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the complainant due to the nature of the case.

In her sworn statement, the 17-year-old girl, a resident of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, alleged she knew Ocapan because he was her textmate. She said it was her friend who gave her number to the accused.

On August 16, she went to the house of her friend in Barangay Kinasang-an. Therein, she met the accused.

On the said date, she said, Ocapan sexually abused her in the house of her friend.

She further claimed that Ocapan then brought her to Cebu City, and they stayed at the house of the latter’s friend for four days.

On August 17, she was again sexually abused by the accused.

The girl’s 58-year-old father said his daughter was missing, thus, he reported the incident to the police station.

Police Senior Inspector Delfin Bontuyan and Senior Police Officer 2 Roel Leyson of the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said they received a complaint from a couple that their daughter, who is a special child, went missing on August 19.

They conducted an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of the accused and the rescue of the victim.