Man arrested for abusing stepdaughter

CEBU, Philippines — A man accused of raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter in Talisay City, Cebu was arrested at their residence last Friday, July 26, 2024.

The National Bureau of Investigations Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI CEVRO), together with Department of Social Welfare and Development-7, rescued the young girl from her 32-year-old stepfather, who allegedly had been raping and beating her for almost six years.

The Freeman withheld the name of the suspect to protect the identity of the victim and her family.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the parents of the victim’s classmate. NBI agents conducted further investigations with the victim’s teachers and classmates, and learned that the abuse reportedly began when she was just 8 years old.

“We verified it with the classmate unsa gud ang klaro nga istorya sa victim. After we are convinced nga naa gyuy abuse or molestation or rape nga nahitabo that’s the time we acted on the situation,” Atty. Wenceslao Galendez of NBI-CEVRO told The Freeman.

On Friday afternoon, during the rescue operation, the victim disclosed that she had been raped again by the accused between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. that same day. Meanwhile, the suspect sat on the ground, resisting arrest, and was seen crying and shouting.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspect physically abused the minor, resorting to hitting and slapping her as a form of punishment for her mistakes. Additionally, he issued threats, warning her to remain silent about her situation, emphasizing that disclosing it would have devastating consequences for the family.

Galendez also observed that the child’s mother has refrained from commenting on the issue, expressing her confusion regarding the situation.”

The suspect is a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and is currently working as a home-based virtual assistant. He is now under the NBI-7 custody and was subjected to inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Talisay City for statutory rape.

Currently, the girl is in the custody of DSWD-7. She celebrated her 14th birthday yesterday, July 30, and her persistent birthday wish has been for an end to her suffering and for the revelation of her stepfather’s abuses.

Galendez emphasized the importance for parents to exercise extra caution with their children and to remain vigilant about potential dangers, regardless of whether the threat comes from a family member or not.

“As parents labi na sa ginikanan ang anak babae, they should make extra precaution especially if ang child is ingon ani nga situation ang bata is not really a biological child sa husband,” Galendez said. —  (FREEMAN)