MANILA, Philippines - A convicted rapist was arrested in Tondo, Manila Sunday for murdering the brother of the woman he was accused of raping two years ago.
Jerome Rivera, 20, a reported member of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang, was sentenced to six years in prison for the rape in 2011. His sentence, however, was cut short to two years after his application for probation was approved.
After his release, Rivera went home to Tondo. On Feb. 15, Rivera shot the victim’s brother, a pedicab driver, in broad daylight as the man plied his trade. The pedicab driver’s passenger, a toddler, was traumatized, according to homicide investigators.
“I took revenge. He sent me to prison, even though I did not rape his sister. He also threatened to kill me, so when we met I shot him four times,†Rivera told police.
He escaped after killing the pedicab driver and remained a fugitive until Sunday, when he was caught as he watched an amateur singing contest in Tondo at around 10 p.m.
He was initially charged with illegal possession of firearms after a .38 caliber revolver was found in his possession.
When police officers checked their records, they found Rivera was wanted for the pedicab driver’s murder.