Girl, 13, "raped" by textmate

CEBU, Philippines - A 20-year-old college student was arrested by the police inside a Mandaue City lodge last Saturday evening for allegedly raping his 13-year-old textmate.

Alfonso Chin Basubas of Villa Leyson Subdivision in Barangay  Bacayan, Cebu City was with the victim for the second time inside a motel in Barangay Guizo when the police rescued the minor.

Senior Inspector Wilson Abot, chief of the Basak Police Station, said that Basubas allegedly raped his minor textmate in Cebu City Saturday last week. The victim told the police that she and the suspect agreed to meet at a mall in Mandaue City last April 21.

During their first meeting the suspect brought the minor to a motel in Cebu City where she was allegedly  raped. The victim said she tried to run but the suspect was strong enough. After the alleged rape the suspect, whom she only knew then as Chin, told her that she is already his girlfriend.

 "Midagan ang bata pagawas kay di siya ganahan didto pero gigukod siya sa suspek. Naputol gani iyang tsinelas kay nalugpitan sa suspek," said Abot, recalling the girl's statement.

The victim told her parents about what had happened but could not give the full name of the suspect since she only knew him as Chin. However, the suspect texted the victim and asked to meet him again last Saturday.

 It was then that the parents of the victim decided to seek the assistance of the police resulting in the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect denied raping the girl claiming that she is his girlfriend. But the victim denied having an intimate relationship with the suspect.  The police however said that regardless of whether it was rape or consensual sex, Basubas will still face a criminal complaint for statutory rape in relation to Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as the Child Abuse Law. —  (FREEMAN)