CEBU, Philippines - A 53-year-old man was arrested by the police after he was accused of raping an eight-year-old girl in Daanbantayan town last Tuesday.
Manuel “Maning†Rosas, of Barangay Talisay, reportedly molested the girl, said to be a special child, inside his house, which is a few meters away from the elementary school the child was attending.
PO2 Clarita Natavio, Women’s and Children’s Desk officer-in-charge, said it was not the first time that Rosas allegedly molested the girl, who is a grade three pupil.
Police said that the victim was having her lunch break and was at the waiting shed of the school playing with her other classmates when Rosas, believed to be under the influence of liquor, arrived and called the attention of the girl.
Rosas then lured the girl to go with him to his house, just a few blocks away, and handed her a P50.
“Dili man pud kuno mao nay unang higayun nga hatagan siya ug kwarta sa suspek kay sauna hatagan pud kuno na siya ug P20 usahay P5,†Natavio said in a phone interview.
A relative of the eight-year-old girl, who was bringing lunch for her child, noticed other pupils running and shouting and asked what the commotion was all about.
“Ilang paryente diha man naghatud ug paniudto sa iya pud nga anak unya nangutana sa bata naunsa sila unya misumbong man pud,†Natavio said.
The relative called out to the girl from outside Rosas’ house and the victim eventually came out. The relative then informed the girl’s family, which resulted to the arrest of Rosas.
The girl was taken to the Pink Room of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for examination.
Natavio said they will be filing a rape case today at the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City against Rosas who is now detained at the Daanbantayan police stockade. (FREEMAN)