17-yr-old arrested for "raping" 4-yr-old

CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year-old boy was arrested by the police for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl Monday morning in the town of Alcantara.

The boy was said to be under the influence of liquor when he saw the girl and tried to lure her of something before the crime happened.

Senior Inspector Al Pascual, Alcantara police chief, said that the victim was playing nearby when the suspect saw her. Both are neighbors.

The boy was drinking at their neighbor's house with his friends. "Nakit-an siguro na niya ang bata unya gitawag unya possible nga gihaylo," Pascual said in a phone interview.

Pascual added that the victim was forcibly taken to a grassy area where she was allegedly sexually assaulted and abused. The boy then told the victim not to tell anyone about what happened.

But the victim informed her mother in the afternoon who then went to the police station for assistance.

"Motuo gyud mi sa bata kay straight siya manulti unya kung imong pangutan-on kay motubag gyud," Pascual said, adding that boy was arrested at the house of his relative where he was hiding.

The suspect was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development office.

Pascual said that they also needed to take the boy into custody as some of the relatives of the victim was reportedly trying to take their revenge against the boy who is now detained at the Alcantara holding center after a rape charge was filed at the fiscal's office yesterday.

"Naa man gu'y paryente nga miaksyon ug bawon unya lisod na," he said.

The victim was accompanied by the Women and Children's Protection Desk officer to the hospital for medical and psychological examinations. — (FREEMAN)