Rape victim cheats death

A 21-year-old rape victim cheated death by, ironically, playing dead after she was raped, strangled until she lost consciousness and thrown into the murky waters of an idle fishpond by two attackers yesterday in Malabon City.

The victim reported the incident to the police. Quick action by the local operatives led to the arrest of Warlito Torres, 24, married, of 1105 Riles street, Barangay Acacia and his 15-year-old nephew, a high school student and resident of Barangay Potrero.

Initial reports said the incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday near a fishpond in Barangay Dampalit, Malabon.

The victim allegedly took a ride home from Francis Market in the tricycle driven by the teenager and his uncle.

The suspects, upon reaching a dark portion of the road, pulled over, turned off the engine and dragged the victim by the wayside.

After divesting her of her belongings, the victim was dragged farther in the bush and was raped.

She was allegedly strangled later in a bid to finish her off. She pretended to be dead and was later thrown into the water by the suspects. The victim waited until she felt the suspects had left and quickly reported her ordeal to the authorities.

In Caloocan City, a pawnshop lost some P350,000 in cash and valuables after unidentified persons robbed the establishment last Monday morning in Caloocan City.

PO2 Joel Montebon, investigator on case, said the robbery of the Agencia de Manila Pawnshop in the Castillo Market, 7th Avenue corner 3rd street, was discovered by employee Wilma Foster, 34, of Canumay, Valenzuela City.

Foster was about to open the shop for business when she found the padlock to the main door busted. She went in and also found the glass display cases broken, the jewelry and valuables gone and the shop in disarray.

Foster then reported the break-in to the police.