Man charged with rape try of a Swedish woman

SAN JUAN, SIQUIJOR, Philippines — A man is now facing an attempted rape case before the Regional Trial Court of Siquijor-Branch 46 for allegedly trying to sexually molest a 22-year old Swedish woman near a private resort at Catulayan in San Juan town of Siquijor, last month.

The suspect, 32-year-old bachelor Harold Pinto, of Nagerong in Lazi town of Siquijor, was charged with attempted rape of the female tourist from Sweden who tried to detour the Swedish national from the resort she was staying after riding a motorcycle offered by the suspect about 13 kilometers from Solangon to Catulayan.

Police Officer 2 Bener Cordova, San Juan Police investigator, told The Freeman the victim reported that she was about to rest with her female companion in a resort at Catulayan when the suspect approached and offered her a ride, in the presence of a certain Joel, and two other Swedish nationals.

However, when Pinto and the victim were on their way to the resort, he made a wrong turn to sitio Canghaling quite far from the residential houses and asked for a kiss from the female foreigner. The victim then kicked him but the latter subdued her to near submission.

The victim later narrated to the police she sustained injuries in her knees when Pinto allegedly tried to kiss, hug and rape her until a fisherman, who happened to pass, heard her screaming and save her from the suspect’s clutches.

Cordova warned visitors and tourists in the island not to trust anyone without any valid IDs as tour guides to avoid any untoward incident, especially at this time of influx of domestic and foreign tourists into Siquijor. (FREEMAN)