Manhunt on for Roxas City trike driver for raping, stabbing coed

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has directed the Roxas City police in Capiz to hunt down a driver of a colorum tricycle, who along with a companion, raped and stabbed a 19-year-old female student and left her for dead.

“Condemnation is a word that falls short to describe this crime, especially because it happened during the Christmas season,” Roxas said.

Roxas received reports that the student was raped and stabbed 21 times last Dec. 19 while on her way to Roxas City. She survived the attack and is now confined in a local hospital.

Roxas also directed Roxas City and Capiz police officials to carry out measures to prevent other cases of sexual assault in the province.

He ordered them to deploy more police officers in barangays to ensure police visibility, and crack down on colorum tricycles. 

Police said the student had come from a wake and boarded the colorum tricycle on her way home. The driver had a male companion, later identified as Jessie de la Cruz, 30, seated behind him. 

The two men later announced a holdup and took the victim’s cell phone and cash. Not contented, they dragged her to a secluded spot where they took turns raping her before stabbing her several times with a screwdriver.

Thinking that the victim was dead, the two fled the scene. Another tricycle driver found the victim and brought her to the hospital.

Police later arrested De la Cruz.

The victim was reported to be in stable condition and was able to talk to police investigators. – With Jennifer Rendon