Raps filed vs Los Baños rape-slay suspects

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Criminal charges have been filed against the principal suspects in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old sampaguita vendor in Los Baños town last Feb. 29.

Security guard Fredolin Presenta, 51, and farm caretaker Alberto Sague, 30, both residents of Barangay Tuntungin and Batong Malake, respectively, were charged with rape with homicide with the Calamba City prosecutor’s office.

The preliminary investigation is set on March 27, Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said.

 Cruz said Presenta and Sague were positively identified by two eyewitnesses – a man and woman.

He said the woman pointed to Presenta as the girl’s assailant while Sague allegedly helped the guard dump the body of the girl in a grassy area last Feb. 29.

The other witness claimed Presenta was the owner of the flashlight found in the crime scene by Laguna operatives while Sague owned the nipa hut used as the suspects’ hideout in a farm in Barangay Tuntungin, Chief Inspector Vic Cabatingan, commander of Laguna Special Operation Task Group and arresting team leader, said.

Cabatingan said the suspects were arrested in separate operations last Thursday.

Chief Superintendent James Melad, Calabarzon police director, said the rape-slay was considered “solved” with the arrest of the principal suspects.