Child rapist falls after 5 years in hiding

An accused child rapist who managed to hide from the law for five years was finally arrested yesterday in Manila when he made the mistake of visiting the scene of the crime.

Crisanto Bamba is wanted for raping a 15-year-old girl on Dec. 22, 2002 in Wagas, Tondo.

After five years on the run, he visited the scene of the crime a few days ago and was recognized by local residents who tipped off the police.

Senior Inspector Rene de Jesus, chief of the Manila Police District’s detective beat patrol unit, sent undercover officers who staked out the neighborhood.

Bamba was spotted after several days and collared. He gave up peacefully.

De Jesus has ordered police patrols stepped up because of the upcoming elections.

"We have on records that crimes traditionally surge during election period, when money supply flows from political coffers. So I ordered my men to conduct surveillance and covert patrol operations on crime prone areas," he told The STAR.