American indicted for abduction, rape

CEBU – A 64-year-old American national was indicted for forcible abduction and rape of an 11-year-old girl in Talisay City last February.

Richard Brown was accused by a Grade III pupil, whose name is withheld, of forcibly taking her into his rented apartment in one of the barangays in Talisay City.

The victim said she, together with her classmate, went to Talisay City sometime in February to visit her godmother. On their way to her godmother’s house, an old man suddenly appeared, covered her mouth that caused her to be unconscious.

The victim woke up already inside the room of the accused whom she later known as Richard Brown. Since then, the victim started calling the accused as uncle upon the latter’s order.

The victim said Brown gave her some foods and even money together with some of her minors’ friends.

According to the victim, she was raped by the accused several times and took pictures of her naked body and was warned not to tell anyone.

The victim said the last time the accused sexually abused her, which she did not mention when in her affidavit, she decided to escape bringing with her his camera. However, the victim said she was caught.

Talisay City Prosecutor Marshall Rubia found probable cause to hold Brown for trial of the criminal charge for forcible abduction with rape, for which he was not allowed to post bail.

On top of it, another case for rape was filed against Brown by the prosecutor’s office in court with a P200,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

The prosecutor’s office indicted Brown after he failed to submit his counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.

He was reportedly nowhere to be found in his rented apartment in Talisay City. — Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)