BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — An agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) came to this city this week and conducted a probe on the rape charges filed in a local court against a 59-year-old American man, who is now in the U.S.
The Filipino-American FBI agent, whose name was not disclosed by the police, was here from Tuesday to Thursday (July 23 to 25) to investigate the case of the American suspect, who allegedly raped the 12-year-old daughter of his live-in partner, a resident of this city.
Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua, chief of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO)'s Special Operations Group, said the FBI agent met with the BCPO Women and Children's Complaints Desk and the victim on Wednesday, and then left the city Thursday.
The American suspect, a retired government employee, is still free because the police failed to serve the warrant of arrest when he was still in Bacolod, but he may be extradited to the Philippines to face the charges here, said the police official.
The arrest warrant, for six counts of rape, was issued by Regional Trial Court-Branch 43 Judge Philadelfa Agraviador last June 25. The judge denied the suspect bail on one of the cases, set P200,000 bail for each of the three cases and P150,000 for each of the other two.
The American retiree allegedly raped the girl several times in 2011, as reported by a resident in the area to the police, resulting in the filing of the cases against the suspect, said Tubongbanua.
Tubongbanua said the minor is now undergoing rehabilitation with Bantay Bata 163 Negros, and the City Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The American suspect reportedly has two pending rape cases in the U.S., one of which involved his own minor daughter, Tubongbanua added. (FREEMAN)