Minor files rape raps against neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - A 14-year-old girl has filed charges against a neighbor who allegedly forcibly took her sometime in December last year and sexually molested her.

The complainant narrated that her 30-year-old neighbor Joebert Geraldizo, approached her sometime in December after she had alighted from a tricycle at the corner of Sincere Subdivision in Talisay City. The man reportedly invited her to his house for a drink.

The minor said that when she refused to give in to Geraldizo’s invitation, he then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, cupped her mouth with a hand, and then dragged her to his house.

The minor also said that Geraldizo covered her mouth with packaging tape and tied her hands also with the use of the adhesive.

She added that Geraldizo “punched her on the abdomen, then moved on to undress her and succeeded with his cruel intentions.”

After the incident, the minor said that Geraldizo tried to give her money but that she refused. Geraldizo let her go but warned her that “should she reveal the incident to anyone, a member of her family would get killed.”

The complainant did not report the incident immediately to her parents for fear that the suspect might be true to his threat.

But when another neighbor started spreading what he knew of regarding the incident, such had tremendously embarrassed her that she was able to gather strength to finally disclose the matter to her parents.

After which, they accompanied her to the police station to report the incident.

A subpoena was already sent to Geraldizo for his counter affidavit but no response was made yet. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)