2 more women tag serial rapist

MANILA, Philippines - Two more women came forward yesterday and accused an alleged serial rapist in Manila of attacking them. 

Tricycle driver Mc Yoren Rapis, 23, was arrested Wednesday for the rape of a 22-year-old pharmacist in Tondo on June 12. The attack was caught by a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Rapis admitted to all three attacks, police said. According to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Rapis is reportedly a robber who targets women walking along Abad Santos street and Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz.

Caught on camera

Rapis was arrested after the pharmacist identified him from the CCTV video in Barangay 203, which showed them struggling at the corner of Corregidor and Abad Santos streets at past midnight on June 12, then the suspect walking away from some parked cars minutes later.

The pharmacist told police she was walking along Juan Luna street when the suspect grabbed her by the neck, dragged her into a parked jeepney and repeatedly punched her until she passed out, before raping her.

She said she shouted for help when she regained consciousness. Barangay watchmen chased the suspect, but lost him in Barangay 184.

Investigators from Manila Police District (MPD) Station 7 were able to get a copy of the video from Barangay 203 chairman Romy Gomez and, by interviewing witnesses, identified Rapis, who was living in the next barangay.

Foiled twice

Rapis was the same man who tried to rape a housewife on the night of June 16, according to MPD Station 7 commander Superintendent Roderick Mariano.

The housewife was able to scare him away when she shouted for help, Mariano said.

Ma. Theresa Borromeo, 27, a nurse at the Ospital ng Tondo, said Rapis was the same man who followed her to her house on Tomas Mapua street on the night of June 19 and, at knifepoint, tried to grab her bag and cell phone.

Lim said Rapis is well-known in his neighborhood in Gagalangin as a “maniac.”

Records at the city social welfare department’s Rehabilitation Action Center show that Rapis served time for a drug-related case.

Rapis admitted that he tried to rape the housewife and rob the nurse. He initially denied raping the pharmacist, but confessed when she faced him at the police station.