Carcar teen's rape-murder case: PAO pushes for preliminary probe

The Public Attorney's Office is pushing for the preliminary investigation on the rape and murder of a thirteen-year-old girl in the municipality of Carcar.

In its motion for reconsideration, the PAO stated that the two accused were not afforded the benefit of a preliminary investigation when the information on rape with homicide in which they are the respondents, was filed in court last Tuesday.

Maximo Laputan, 40, and his older brother Concordio Laputan, 46, were charged for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on September 6 in sitio Kamang-kamang, barangay Ocaña, Carcar town. The two said they were innocent, but could only say so, as during the filing of the case they had no legal counsel to represent them.

The PAO said that to prove the innocence of the accused, now detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, a preliminary investigation must be conducted by the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

"Both accused were arrested without any warrant of arrest last Saturday and detained at the Carcar Police station and never afforded the opportunity to confer with a lawyer," the motion read.

Meanwhile, the child's mother Diomedes who went to the Police Provincial Office yesterday once again voiced her sentiments saying her husband could not possibly be responsible for the death of their child, Maylen, as he was with her the whole time that night.

The two were arrested following the appearance of a certain Ronnie Tabora as eyewitness to the crime. - Liv G. Campo