Fisherman accused of rape

CEBU, Philippines - An elderly fisherman was arrested after he was caught allegedly raping his 17-year-old male neighbor who has Down Syndrome, in the town of Alegria, south of Cebu.

Last Thursday, Fedirico Labrado, 53, was arrested by the father and uncle of the victim who reportedly witnessed the sexual assault.

The incident happened in the victim’s house in Sitio Cotcoton, Barangay Sta. Filomena at past 12 pm where the family members saw the suspect allegedly inserting his private part into the victim’s anus, said SPO1 Geraldine Capangpangan, chief of Alegria Police’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk.

The father of the victim, a laborer, told police that he went home from work to take his lunch when he saw the suspect together with his son. His wife and the rest of the family members were not around when the suspect allegedly molested his mentally-challenged son.

The father reportedly shouted at the suspect, which prompted the latter to run away. He then sought for help from his brother who lived nearby and who helped apprehend the suspect.

They then took Labrado to the Alegria Police Station.

Labrado defended that it was the victim who offered to have sex with him.

“Nayawaan sad daw siya ug giganahan niadtong higayuna, mao nga nahimo ang krimen (He felt he was possessed and he also liked the feeling at that time),” said Capangpangan.

The suspect reportedly regretted what he had done, but it has been too late and his allegations were hard to believe, the WCPD chief said.

According to Capangpangan, based on the medical result from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, where the victim underwent examination after the alleged assault, there were no lacerations found on his private part.

But this would not necessarily mean that the victim was not sexually abused, and the case will still prosper in court because the act was witnessed, the police officer said.

A charge for sexual assault in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law was filed against Labrado yesterday. —ATO (FREEMAN)