Rape suspect resisting arrest killed

Police shot dead Thursday a 33 year-old man after he resisted arrest for allegedly raping his 14 year-old stepdaughter inside his house in Caloocan City.

Gualberto Gihapon, of Bagong Silang, Caloocan, sustained a gunshot wound in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Jose Rodriguez Hospital.

According to reports, the incident occurred at about 1:40 p. m. in front of the suspect’s house when arresting policemen arrived after Gihapon’s stepdaughter filed rape charges.

Inspector Ryan David, along with SPO1 Jorge Ortega and SPO1 Santiago Makiling, were about to make the arrest when the suspect pulled out an ice pick.

Gihapon immediately lunged for Ortega and stabbed him in the shoulder. He then tried to grab the policeman’s M-16 Armalite, and a struggle ensued. But SPO1 Ortega was able to fire a shot, hitting the suspect in the upper side of the chest. Gihapon collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he died.

A police report said Gihapon also got hold of a homemade shotgun but did not say why he failed to use it.

The suspect, who was recently paroled by the Quezon City Parole and Probation Division, sexually abused his stepdaughter last Tuesday at about 2 p.m. inside their house.

But the victim’s uncle witnessed the rape and told his sister about the incident. They later accompanied the victim to the city’s police station and lodged a criminal complaint against Gihapon. – Matthew Estabillo