Carpenter arrested  for alleged  robbery,  rape try

Police arrested a 22-year-old carpenter for allegedly robbing and attempting to rape a 20-year-old woman in barangay Mambaling Friday morning.

The suspect is identified as Hermis Basillos of barangay Lut-ud, Pinamungajan town.

The arrest came after the victim (named withheld) and a witness Joerwin Tapales reported the incident to the Theft and Robbery Section of the city police and positively identified Basillos.

The victim alleged that Basillos destroyed the door of Legaspi Building where she lives, managed to enter her room and took her cell phone worth P10,000 and P5,000 cash.

Basillos also allegedly pointed a sharp pointed object at the victim, hugged her, and ordered her to undress. She, however, screamed for help, which caught the attention of the building’s other occupants, including Tapales who reportedly saw Basillos leaving hurriedly. 

The suspect was later arrested at the Central Lumber in barangay Cogon-Pardo where he worked. 

Basillos vehemently denied the allegations, saying he was drunk at that time after a drinking spree with friends at a nearby store and that he was unaware that he entered the building and subsequently the complainant’s room.

He said that when the complainant was waking him up and he realized he was in somebody else’s room, he immediately left but went back moments later when he further realized he had left his shirt.

Basillos said he was surprised that he was accused of something he did not do. — Edwin Ian Melecio/JMO