Tricycle driver arrested for molesting young boy

A tricycle driver was arrested by Caloocan police yesterday for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old boy several times.

The boy, a grade four pupil and resident of Tagaytay street, Caloocan City, told police the suspect forced oral sex on him at least three times. Police said the suspect did the sexual acts inside a passenger jeepney parked in front of the victim’s house at different times of the day, the last incident was at around five in the afternoon.

Station Intelligence and Investigation Division (SIID) chief Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo said suspect Robert Torres, 23, of Barrio Maligaya Park, 2nd Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan, is now detained at the city police jail.

The victim said every time the suspect saw him, he would be offered money and lured inside the jeepney. There, the suspect would pull down his zipper and perform oral sex on him.

A certain "Joel" informed the victim’s elder brother who in turn told his parents about the molestation. Accompanied by the parents, the victim made a formal complaint at the police station.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old laborer was shot dead by an unidentified male while having a drinking session with friends the other day in Valenzuela City.

Declared dead on arrival at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center from a gunshot that blow off his left eye was Petronilo Cruz, single, of Vicente street, Valenzuela City.

Police records showed the incident happened at around 8 p.m. Sunday in an alley near where the victim lived. – Jerry Botial