NPD hunting down gang rape suspects

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil ordered yesterday a manhunt for four more suspects in the gang rape of a high school student in Caloocan City.

Bataoil personally tasked Caloocan City police officer-in-charge (OIC) Senior Superintendent Virgilio Espija to hunt down the suspects to give justice to the young victim.

"All the identified suspects must be arrested regardless of whoever they are," Bataoil said.

He said Guerrero Gay Climaco, Jonathan Pilanin, one Buboy Arasa and a certain Leonora Tapang, all of Barangay 175 in Camarin, were accused in the sexual assault of an 18-year-old girl on the night of March 13.

The victim, out of fear, decided to seek police assistance only last Saturday.

This resulted in the immediate arrest of one of the suspects, identified as Gerry Buncalan, 40, a resident of Barangay 175 in Camarin, Caloocan City North.

According to the victim, the rape occurred at around 6 p.m. at the house of Buncalan, where the suspects allegedly forced her to drink liquor.

After the girl consumed the drink, she felt dizzy. The suspects, she said, with the assistance of Tapang, took advantage and abused her.

When the girl gained consciousness, she sought the help of village officials. Tapang was apprehended, but was released later without the filing of any charges.

With no one to turn to, the victim sought police help.

SPO4 Marilou Rhebeng, chief of the Camarin police Women and Children’s Concerned Desk (WCCD), was also directed by Bataoil to provide full assistance to the victim.