Japanese arrested for raping baby

Police filed charges yesterday against a Japanese tourist who allegedly sexually abused the eight-month-old niece of his Filipino live-in partner in Parañaque.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Nestorio Gualberto said criminal charges were formally filed in the Parañaque Prosecutor’s Office against the 53-year-old suspect, identified as Yukitoshi Matsushita.

Matsushita was arrested by a joint team from the CIDG and the Bureau of Immigration the other night at his live-in partner’s residence in San Antonio Valley 12 Subdivision in Sucat, Parañaque.

According to Chief Inspector Feliciana Gido, chief of the CIDG Women’s Desk, Matsushita was caught in video allegedly in the act of abusing the infant.

Matsushita’s live-in partner, Jessica Ebo, 29, set-up a hidden camera inside their bedroom last Tuesday morning after she suspected him of abusing the baby.

"The suspicion from the baby’s aunt (Ebo) arose when she noticed the infant vomiting some white substance last Sept. 29, Gido said.

Authorities added that Ebo did not immediately confront the suspect and instead, installed a video camera inside their bedroom.

Ebo later played the tape and was disgusted to see the suspect forcing his organ into the baby’s mouth.

Gido said she has already requested the victim’s family to submit the videotape as evidence against the suspect.

"Under Philippine laws, this is punishable by death. In this instance, merely inserting his organ in the victim’s mouth, an infant, already constitutes rape and child abuse," Gido told reporters.

Matsushita denied allegations, saying he was merely taking care of the child, who has been under Ebo’s care for the past four months.

Police said the suspect, who can only speak a bit of English, is in the country for a two-week vacation. – Christina Mendez and Rey Arquiza