Rape suspect hangs self in Pasay jail

A jobless man, accused of raping his 13-year-old daughter, hanged himself inside the toilet of a police community precinct (PCP) in Pasay City last Sunday.

Authorities said the 46-year-old fatality was a resident of Barangay 177, who worked as a farmer in his native Camarines Sur.

He died before reaching the Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH).

The man allegedly killed himself while police and barangay officials were discussing his daughter’s complaint.

Chief Inspector Julian Balan, PCP 7 block commander, told The STAR that it was around 5:10 p.m. and he was talking with Barangay Captain Jay Delmendo and some kagawads, when he noticed that the man asked permission to use the toilet to relieve himself.

Balan said some 10 minutes later, another suspect demanded to use the toilet.

When the man did not answer, police were forced to open the door.

Everybody inside the PCP were shocked to find him hanging from an iron bar, with a belt looped around his neck.

Balan said other people inside the PCP told him that they heard the man mumbling to himself before he went inside the toilet.

Balan said the barangay officials had requested the PCP to "unofficially" take the man into custody over the weekend, while they worked out his transfer to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to whom the alleged victim had already given her statement.

Balan said barangay officials had long suspected that the man had been molesting his daughter.

Last Friday, during an argument, the man reportedly hit his wife who suspected that he had once again molested his daughter.

The wife then sought the help of the barangay.

Balan said the man’s two older daughters had given him the belt when they brought him food to the PCP office.

For his part, city police chief, Senior Superintendent Oscar Catalan, said police are nevertheless investigating if there was foul play involved in the incident.

He added that Balan would have to be relieved of his post while the investigation is going on.

"He was performing well but unfortunately, the incident happened inside his office," Catalan said, referring to the PCP.

He said he would also seek the "guidance" of Southern Police District director, Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Jr. on the matter.

Catalan said belts are generally allowed inside detention cells. Suspects are not allowed to have bladed weapons inside the cells. – Nikko Dizon