‘Same man tried to rape 2 teens’

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City investigators believe that the same man, in his early 20s, may have tried to rape two teenage girls in separate incidents that occurred months apart, an official said yesterday.

Last week, a man driving a red Honda Jazz asked directions from a girl walking to school along EDSA in Cubao at around 6 a.m. He then offered to give the girl a lift to school. When she accepted, he drove to a side street and tried to rape her. She fought him off and escaped.

In February, a similar incident occurred in Barangay West Kamias, according to Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10 commander Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr.

The sketches of the two men appeared similar, QCPD director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said.

He said they have yet to talk to Maria Paula Teresa Rosales, the registered owner of the Honda Jazz (ZRD 461). The car is now the subject of a police alarm and its driver could be apprehended.

Pedrozo said the car had been sold to Rosales by her employer, GMA Network.

Albano said they will invite Rosales to “talk to us.” If she refuses the invitation, investigators have no choice but to file charges against her, he said.