Lawyer nabbed for “raping” minor

CEBU, Philippines — The lawyer-broadcaster who was accused of raping a minor two years ago was arrested yesterday along Arellano Boulevard, Corner General Maxilom Extension, Cebu City by virtue of an alias warrant.

The operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 nabbed lawyer Juril Patiño who is facing a rape case in 2017.

Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Acting Presiding Judge Marlon Jay Moneva signed the alias warrant of arrest against the suspect.

NBI-7 Director Atty. Tomas Enrile said that the warrant was issued since last year, but the suspect remained free because he allegedly went into hiding.

He added that Patiño used three different vehicles, so that the operatives would not notice his movement.

Enrile said they got a tip that Patiño was supposed to submit a document through his wife at the Cebu City Hall of Justice yesterday.

When the wife disembarked, they discovered that the suspect just stayed inside the vehicle.

“Matinding surveillance yung ginawa natin sa kanya.  Hindi talaga matsambahan. Kaya continuous yung operation natin until today,” Enrile said.

The FREEMAN asked for comments from the suspect, but he declined to issue any statement.

The rape case was filed against Patiño who was accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl inside his vehicle along Zamora Street, Barangay Parian, Cebu City last July 4, 2017.

The victim and her mother reported the incident at the Parian Police Station eight days after the alleged rape incident happened.  The victim said it took time for her to report the incident because of the trauma she suffered because of the incident.

The victim’s mother reportedly works as the lawyer’s laundrywoman.

Patiño has denied the charge.

Patiño passed the bar examination in 2014 and he became a commentator and broadcaster in one of the FM stations in Cebu City. (FREEMAN)