Suspect in student’s molestation charged

MANILA, Philippines - A family driver arrested for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old high school student has been charged with acts of lasciviousness, the Southern Police District (SPD) said yesterday.

SPD spokesperson Superintendent Jenny Tecson said the student appeared before the Makati police headquarters last Nov. 13 and identified Jarin Hidalgo, 34, of Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City, as the one who molested her. 

Tecson said the student admitted that Hidalgo never forced her to board the van when she was walking along Kalayaan Avenue at around 10 a.m. last Nov. 3. She told police he asked for directions to Rockwell Center and she agreed to go with him after he promised to return her to Kalayaan Avenue.

She said the student contradicted her earlier statement, wherein she claimed she was forced to board the van but escaped after the van stopped at a gasoline station along J.P. Rizal street around five hours later.

However, the student maintained that Hidalgo and his companion groped her while she was in the van, Tecson said.

Hidalgo was arrested by Makati police last Nov. 13 while driving along Makati Avenue. Sources said he was arrested after a review of footage from closed-circuit television cameras revealed the license plate of the Mitsubishi Montero Hidalgo was driving.

The student was reunited with her mother at the Manila Police District’s Station 9 hours after her escape.