Man, friends arrested for 'beating' girl

CEBU, Philippines - The police have arrested an 18-year-old boy and two of his friends after his 15-year-old live-in partner reported to the police and claimed she was beaten by the group on Tuesday night in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Casili, Consolacion town.

Erwin Española, 18; Ariel Mendez, 18; Mack Cyrus Angeles, 21,; and Kim Tagono, were all arrested after “Rose” (not her real name), Española’s live-in partner, told the police she was beaten by the boys.

Police Officer 1 Socrates Borinaga, desk officer, said that the 15-year-old girl was catching her breath when she arrived at the station. She had injuries in her body.

Borinaga said  the girl narrated that she was beaten by Española and company after a misunderstanding. Instead of helping her, Española’s friends reportedly joined him in beating her. Luckily, she managed to escape and ran straight to the police station to report the incident.

Borinaga said operatives of the station conducted a follow-up investigation and responded to the scene immediately.

The police asked the victim to accompany them so that she could identify the suspects for the police to arrest them.

Upon reaching Sitio Sto. Niño 2, Barangay Casili, the victim pointed to the police a group of persons so the police introduced themselves and later asked them if they were the persons responsible for beating the girl.

They denied the allegations but the girl positively identified them so they were arrested by the police.

After their arrest, the police frisked them and were able to reportedly recover a pack of suspected shabu and tin foil from Española.

A tin foil was also recovered from Mendez, a pack of suspected shabu and tin foil from Angeles, and a pack of suspected shabu and tin foil also from Tagono.

Police Officer 3 Arthur Ariate said the arrested suspects were brought to Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office yesterday for filing of a criminal complaint. The victim, however, changed her mind and told the police that she would no longer file a case against them.

But the four are not off the hook yet as Consolacion police will still file charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against them. — Bryner L. Diaz and Romeo Limpangog of BANAT NEWS