Roxas orders police to hunt teenager's attacker

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Friday ordered the Roxas City police to track down and arrest a man who allegedly attacked and sexually assaulted a 19-year-old student in the city.

"I have instructed the Capiz Provincial Police Office to set aside festivities for now and devote all the personnel they can to arrest the suspect," Roxas said.

Reports said the victim, a native of Barangay Quinayuya, Dao in Capiz, was raped and stabbed 21 times last Wednesday on her way to Barangay Lawaan, Roxas City. She survived the attack and is now being treated at a local hospital.

Police said the victim boarded a colorum tricycle on her way home in Fuentes Drive. Apart from the driver, another man was also seated at the back of the vehicle.

The men allegedly announced a hold up, then took the victim’s valuables. Not contented, they also dragged the teenager to remote area spot where they took turns raping her before stabbing her.

Thinking that the victim was already dead, the men fled the scene of the crime. 

The victim was later found by another tricycle driver who brought her to the hospital.

The Capiz police arrested one of the suspects, Jessie dela Cruz, 30, of Punta Tabuk, Roxas City. The police are also conducting follow up operations to capture the tricycle driver.

Roxas ordered to deploy more policemen in barangays to ensure police visibility. 

He also instructed authorities to crack down colorum tricycle drivers to prevent a similar modus used in attacking female passengers.