Ex-university teacher nabbed in Jeddah

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A dismissed professor of the Holy Angel University (HAU) here has been arrested in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is set to be flown back to the country next week to face 32 counts of rape of at least one former underaged female student.

The suspect, Arnell Atienza Ocampo, 50, has been in the “red list” of the Interpol as international fugitive.

In an interview with The STAR, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Emy de Jesus described the arrest of Ocampo as only “partial victory” for the families of the victims, including his student at HAU, who was only 16 years old when he allegedly raped her over a two-year period.

“Gabriela will not stop with his arrest. Justice will be fully done once the suspect is jailed,” she said, noting that Ocampo had been hiding in Jeddah for over a year now.

The father of the victim said he was informed by the DOJ that Ocampo was arrested last Friday and was placed under the custody of Jeddah authorities for turn over to the Philippine consulate there.

The father, who asked not to be named to protect the identity of his child, said information on Ocampo’s arrest has been relayed to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and National Bureau of Investigation-Interpol chief Jun de Castro.

“Ocampo faces five arrest warrants, including two with no bail, for rape and child abuse. We expect him to be jailed as soon as he arrives in the country next week,” the father said.

The suspect is married with two children.

Records from the NBI indicated Ocampo fled the country despite a hold departure order against him in relation to the rape cases, and then later found a job as secretary to a Filipino manager at the Saudi Oger firm in Jeddah.

Formal complaints filed against him before a local court alleged that before Ocampo was employed by HAU, he already had record of sexual abuse of a minor at the Magalang Institute where he was “dismissed for cause.”

Later at the HAU, Ocampo was also accused of molesting minor students.

“Administrative complaint was filed against Ocampo at HAU on Sept. 18, 2008. He was suspended only for three months. He was back teaching on Feb. 7, 2009,” said the father who initiated the complaint. Six days later, the father filed a criminal case against Ocampo before the DOJ.

On March 27, 2009, the HAU dismissed Ocampo. The following day, Ocampo was able to flee to Jeddah despite a hold departure order issued against him.

DOJ records show that despite his absence, the department indicted Ocampo in November 2009 with 32 counts of rape. Five arrest warrants, including two that barred bail, were issued by Angeles City Regional Trial Court Judge Angelica Paras-Quiambao.

Last January, the NBI-Interpol placed Ocampo in international red list that classified the suspect as a wanted figutive all over the world. Last April 28, the Department of Foreign Affairs cancelled his passport, thus making him an illegal alien in Jeddah.

De Lima, in an official communication with Jeddah authorities last September, sought the arrest of Ocampo.