Valenzuela youth leader accused of rape

MANILA, Philippines - A village youth leader and a high school student were arrested and charged for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl during a party in Valenzuela City on Jan. 17, police said yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Lorena Hernandez, chief of the Valenzuela City police Women and Children’s Protection Desk, identified the suspects as Jemellson Melegrito, 18, a Sanguniang Kabataan official in Barangay Mabolo, also in Valenzuela; and Ranier Prudencio, 18, a fourth year high school student and also a resident of Barangay Mabolo.

“The suspects were both arrested and detained as charged,” Police Officer 1 Joan Hulguin told The STAR yesterday.

Hulguin said the 15-year-old victim claimed she was invited by the suspects to a party at Melegrito’s house on the afternoon of Jan. 17 with at least 10 other teenagers.

The victim said she got drunk and fell asleep. When she woke up, she said she was in a room with three teenagers, including Melegrito. She told police Melegrito and Prudencio raped her.

“Medical examination of the victim showed she was raped,” Hulguin said.

The victim was able to escape when a relative went to Melegrito’s house to fetch her. The girl told her relatives of the rape. They sought police help that resulted in the arrest of the suspects.

On Jan. 19, charges were filed against the two teenagers before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office.

Hulguin said another girl, aged 14, said she was raped by a 14-year-old boy during the same party.