2 suspects in ex-beauty queen’s rape arrested

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Police arrested the other day two of five suspects in the abduction and rape of a former local beauty queen.

Chief Inspector Elmer Cabreros, this city’s police chief, said suspects Armel Obille, 32, and Christopher Castañeda, 28, both of Balaoan town, did not resist arrest.

Charges of abduction with multiple rape have been filed against them.

Cabreros said the victim was allegedly abducted by the two suspects, along with three still unidentified companions, while she and a friend were walking here on the morning of Sept. 16.

The suspects were reportedly aboard a Honda Civic. After a few minutes of cruising around city streets, they then dumped the victim’s companion along the Diversion Road in Barangay Biday.

The victim, police said, was brought to Balaoan town and later to Capas, Tarlac, and finally to Sto. Tomas, Batangas where she was allegedly sexually molested.

The victim managed to escape on the night of Sept. 20 while her kidnappers were asleep. She then immediately informed the police about her ordeal.

Cabreros personally led the arrest of the two suspects.