Student gang-raped in parked jeepney

MANILA, Philippines - Three of five men were arrested after they were caught raping a 20-year-old student in a parked passenger jeepney in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Chief Inspector Anita Araullo, who heads the Children and Women’s Desk of the Manila Police District, identified the arrested suspects as Narciso Cuaresma, 18; John Carl Fernandez, 20; and Reynaldo de Vera, 18. The three were caught by watchmen of Barangay 72, Zone 6 in Moriones, Tondo, Araullo added.

The head of the watchmen told police they were patrolling the area at past midnight when they noticed several men milling around a parked passenger jeepney. “When the watchmen arrested the three suspects, the victim was inside the jeepney with her pants down,” Araullo said.

The victim, a second year college student taking up Business Administration, said she and her friends spent the eve of the Lunar New Year at the Star City amusement park in Pasay City. She said that at past 11 p.m., her friends dropped her off near her house along Moriones street.

She said she was walking home when Fernandez and a certain “McCoy,” both solvent sniffers, accosted her and at knifepoint brought her to a parking lot where three more “solvent boys” were waiting.

She said she was ordered to remove her pants and Fernandez, Cuaresma, a certain “Bilog,” and a certain “Agoy” took turns raping her while De Vera served as a lookout.

“Though suspect De Vera reportedly did not rape the victim, he would also be charged with rape as an accomplice,” Araullo said.

Police launched a manhunt for McCoy, whose real name is Mark Joseph Barrios; Bilog, an alias used by Raymond de los Santos; and a 17-year-old boy.