Suspect in rape of UPLB student nabbed

LAGUNA, Philippines – The suspect in the rape and robbery of a 17-year-old student of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) was arrested in Barangay Lamot in Calauan town here before dawn yesterday.

Jose Montecillo, 26, alias Joey, was collared in the house of his relatives at around 1 a.m., yesterday, according to Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao, Laguna police director.

Saligao said the wife of Montecillo, whom police learned was confined at the Bay District Hospital, disclosed her husband’s whereabouts.

The victim said Montecillo, a tricycle driver, dragged her to a grassy area, where she was raped, when she alighted after being told that they ran out of gas.

Montecillo denied raping the student, but when asked by policemen about the money and cell phone of the victim, he said he lost them.

Saligao said Montecillo would be charged with robbery and rape before the Los Baños prosecutor’s office.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) urged the government to beef up security in state colleges and universities following the incident.

The NUSP noted that there are only about 40 UPLB policemen, 40 community support brigade members and 75 guards securing the campus.

“Lack of adequate government funding has made our universities and colleges unsafe,” the NUSP said. – With Helen Flores