Rape suspect arrested in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - A rape suspect who had been hiding from authorities for about three years was finally arrested in his residence in Barangay Biasong, Balamban last Tuesday morning.

The arrest of Joseph Rosario Cañas, 20, was by virtue of arrest warrant for rape which was filed against him last 2009 at the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City.

The warrant was signed by Presiding Judge Hermes Montero of Branch 58. No bail was recommended for the case.

Cañas was arrested by the intelligence personnel led by Insp. Audie Pelayo around 10:35 in the morning.

The warrant was served just last Tuesday after information reached the office from a concerned citizen who sighted Cañas in the said barangay.

SPO3 Arvie Banate, Balamban police investigator, said Cañas was 17-year-old when he committed the crime. He allegedly raped a neighbor who was mentally ill.

“As far as my memory serves me well dunay deperensiya sa pangisip ang biktima ana,” Banate told The FREEMAN.

Banate added Cañas reportedly enticed the woman before he molested her. Cañas allegedly took her to a shanty several meters away from their residence and this went on for days before it was reported to the police.

The father of the victim pursued the filing of charges against Cañas.

Banate also said that they were able to come up with a witness who testified.

“Timing man pud gud to nga dunay nakakita nga nagkuyog ang duha nanggawas sa shanty,” Banate said. (Someone saw the two as they were going out of the shanty.) —(FREEMAN)