Alleged rapist caught due to other charges

An electronic technician on the run for raping his grade five pupil niece, was nabbed because of four other criminal charges.

Suspect, Rennel Lagdaan, 28, of 135 E. Antipolo St., Pasay City, was wanted by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for raping his niece Lotsky Co (not her real name) last June.

Fortunately, PO2 Leandro Gatdula of WPD Malate police station arrested the suspect at about 9 p.m. the other day in Malate, Manila, for trespassing, physical injuries, coercion, and threatening the lives of live-in-partner Opreng Caoile and sister Mary Jane.

Mary Jane, a security guard of 2637 Cuyegking St., Malate, Manila, sought police assistance when the suspect forcibly entered her residence looking for her sister Opreng, who broke off with the suspect after she learned of the rape incident last month.

"I will kill you and your whole clan if you sever our relationship and turn witness against me," Opreng quoted the suspect.

Investigation by CIDG Police Inspector Emma Trinidad showed that Lotsky, 11, who hails from Nueva Vizcaya was invited by her Uncle Rennel and Opreng for a summer vacation in Manila on Feb. 25. They promised they would bring her back before school started. However, it was only on July 3 that the victim was allowed to go home to the province.

The victim’s aunt and guardian, Yolanda, became suspicious whenever the child was returned so late. She learned from the child that whenever Opreng went to work at night, her Uncle Rennel would snuggle up beside her in bed and put his buto (penis) in her hand and tell her to dede and later penetrate her. The victim said she resisted but was overpowered by her uncle and could only cry in excruciating pain.

"Uncle Rennel threatened me and warned me not to tell Aunt Opreng or anybody," said the victim.

Genital examination conducted on the victim by DILG’s Women’s Crisis and Child Protection Center showed definitive evidence of penetration.

In a confrontation at the Malate police Station 9 in front of this writer and police investigators Leandro Gatdula and Rolando Cabatin, Lotsky positively pointed to her uncle as her rapist.

The suspect unmindful of the possible death penalty that he faces, threatened the complainants and said, "Kakatayin ko kayo pag nakalabas ako dito." – Wilfredo Suarez