Scavenger pleads guilty to kidnapping four-year-old girl

Manila, Philippines - A scavenger accused of raping and kidnapping a four-year-girl in Parañaque City last March pleaded guilty to abduction charges before a regional trial court (RTC) Wednesday, a judge said yesterday.

Judge Jaime Guray of Parañaque RTC Branch 274 told The STAR that Dexterio Calimlim Dungan has been “itching to be transferred to the New Bilibid Prisons.”

“When arraigned, by reading the information to him and translating the same to him...assisted by (lawyer) Christian Paul Mendoza, he pleaded guilty. The court informed him of the consequences of his plea...and he is very insistent as he understands the effects and consequences of his plea,” Guray’s April 26 order read.

Dungan and his common-law-wife Josephine Abrenilla were charged with kidnapping with serious illegal detention when they abducted the girl last March 2.

Dungan brought the victim to his Quezon City residence, where he was accused of keeping and molesting her for a week. Dungan is facing rape charges before a Quezon City court.

A source earlier told The STAR that the girl was playing at a video arcade run by a neighbor along Dimasalang street in Barangay Baclaran on March 2 when Dungan allegedly enticed her to go with him by giving her P1 coins and chocolates. When the child agreed, Dungan placed her in his kariton (cart) and fled.

Guray said Dungan will still have to undergo trial as a matter of procedure although the hearings may not be as tedious as in those cases where the accused denied the charges.

“In cases punishable by life imprisonment... the prosecution is required to prove the guilt of the accused despite the guilty plea,” Guray said. The next hearing has been set in May.