Robber fails to get valuables, "rapes" woman

CEBU, Philippines – Dismayed by the lovers' failure to hand him their valuables, a robber smacked the man's head and allegedly raped his girlfriend in barangay Buagsong, Cordova town yesterday dawn.

The suspect, Dante Tura, 23, was later arrested by the police in a follow up operation after the victims identified him as the perpetrator.

Police Insp. Felix Pacaldo said that Tura was allegedly secretly watching the lovers while they were swimming at around 12 midnight.

After the two victims were done swimming at around 2:30 a.m., Tura reportedly approached them and declared a robbery while pointing a knife at the two.

The suspect allegedly demanded for the victims' cash and cell phones.

However, the lovers failed to give the suspect his demands as they allegedly left their belongings at their motorcycle. Dissatisfied with his unsuccessful robbery, Tura alleged grabbed the 19-year-old woman and dragged her to a rocky portion of the beach where he repeatedly raped her.

The woman reportedly tried to fight back but Tura threatened to kill her with a knife.

Police said the woman's boyfriend also tried to stop the suspect but the latter hit him with a rock on the head that made him unconscious for few hours.

When the woman's boyfriend gained consciousness, he immediately reported the incident to the Cordova Police Station. The police, together with barangay tanods of Barangay Buagsong conducted a follow up operation that led to the arrest of the suspect.

At the police station, the lovers positively identified Tura as the one who victimized them.

Investigators also said Tura was among those responsible for several burglaries that happened in their area.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development immediately assisted the victim after the traumatic experience. She was brought to the "Pink Room" at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for examination and counseling.

Police said the lovers had just came from a fiesta in Lapu-Lapu City when they decided to have a later night swimming in they encountered the suspect.

Local law enforcers said the area where the crime happened was dimly lit and very secluded. (FREEMAN)