In Tawali, Minglanilla town boy who ‘raped’ kin arrested, denies raps

CEBU, Philippines -  A 17-year-old boy who allegedly raped his 14-year-old relative was arrested in Barangay Tawali, Minglanilla Monday afternoon.

The victim (name withheld by The FREEMAN) is a resident of Sitio Balisong, Barangay Cantoa-an, City of Naga who was allegedly raped by his relative this year.

The suspect was arrested by the police in a house intended for caretakers of a poultry owned by his employer in Minglanilla.

According to Police Officer 3 Francisco Codinera Jr. of  Naga Police Station, they first tracked down the suspect in the poultry farm where he works in Naga but he was no longer there.

Then a resident of Naga tipped the police that the suspect was hiding in Minglanilla so they immediately went to the place and were able to arrest the victim.

Codinera said the victim denied the accusations against him and pinpointed one of his relatives as the alleged mastermind.

“Base sa suspek, wa kuno ni siya’y labot sa pagpanglugos, ang iyaha ra kunong ig-agaw ang miingon nga luguson to nila ang babaye. Naa kuno ni siya sa lugar apan wa siya miapil paglugos,” said Codinera.

“Pero pagpangutana namo nga kung wala siya’y sala nganong siya man ang gireklamo, wala siya katubag,” he added.

The suspect is now temporarily under the custody of Operation Second Chance in Guadalupe for he is still 17 years old but will soon be transferred to a regular prison as soon as he reaches legal age.

Meanwhile, another 17-year-old was arrested in the town of Alcantara for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl on July 7.

The suspect was said to be under the influence of liquor when he saw the victim playing then he allegedly forcibly brought her to a grassy area of their place and assaulted and sexually abused the child.

The suspect was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.  (FREEMAN)