CEBU, Philippines - In a span of one hour, three gang rape suspects were arrested by the Borbon Police in a simultaneous operation last Thursday evening in the mountain barangay of Managase in Borbon town and in Barangay Damolog in Sogod town.
The three suspects and one other man who remains at large were accused of raping a woman estimated to be 50 years old in March this year.
The Borbon Police led by its chief, Insp. Glen Devocion, first arrested Benjie Nasoli and his cousin, Lito “Titing†Pastida around 10:30 p.m. in Barangay Managase. The arrest of the two then led to the arrest of Benjie’s brother, Eddie Nasoli, in Barangay Damolog past 11:00 p.m.
Police were armed with an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trail Court Judge Antonio Marigomen of Branch 61 in Bogo City dated August 28, 2013.
Devocion said Benjie tried to elude arrest but failed.
Devocion said they had to walk for about two hours from the national highway to the barangay to search for the suspects.
“Layo gyud tong ilaha unya gikan didto, didto dayun mi’g Sogod unya galakaw gihapon mi kay bukid man gihapon ang ila (Eddie),†Devocion said in a phone interview.
PO3 Rolinda Flores of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk officer narrated that the suspects raped the 50-year-old victim while they were heading home from a drinking session. The victim were drinking with the four suspects.
“Gikan na sila gainom lima unya paingon na pauli dihang gikalit kuno siya (victim) ug bunlot sa daplin before naabot sa balay unya gitabangan,†Flores told The Freeman in a phone interview.
The victim sought refuge with the police the following day.
Devocion said the fourth suspect remains at large and is now out of Cebu, which is why local police have coordinated with their counterparts in that place.
“We are planning to fax the warrant against him to the police station there para sila na lang ang mudakop,†he said. –/JMO (FREEMAN)