CEBU, Philippines - A councilman of Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City is in hot water after a 13-year-old girl claimed she was raped by him inside a motel at the North Reclamation Area early this month.
The girl, a grade seven student and resident of Barangay Alang-alang, Mandaue City, accused a 65-year-old Ibabao kagawad of raping her around 12 noon of August 2.
However, the victim only reported the incident to the police morning of August 6 amid the suspect's alleged threats to her life if she was to tell anyone about what had happened.
Citing the councilman as an influential person, she said he or his family might do something bad to her once she opens up about the case.
Owing to the nature of the case, The FREEMAN is withholding the names of parties involved. The victim is not of legal age while the suspect has yet to issue a statement.
RAPE CLAIMS
Based on the investigation record form signed by the victim's father, the victim was at a mall around 11 that morning when she tried to contact the barangay councilman and asked for his location.
Later, the suspect arrived at the mall and they met. He allegedly told her to board on his white Fortuner car, to which the minor obliged, and then the car sped off.
But to the victim's surprise, she was brought to a motel just across the mall, the police record read.
She then told the suspect she no longer wanted to go with him but the latter did allegedly not mind her and instead parked his car in the hotel's garage as he dragged her towards the room.
She said she tried to struggle but the suspect was stronger, and was able to undress and succeed in raping her.
After the incident, the suspect allegedly warned the victim not to tell anybody about it and even told her, "wa'y makapilde nako kay daghan ko og kwarta."
He then gave the victim P500 and drove her back to the mall.
FIRST MEETING
Senior Police Officer 2 Rowena Peñaflor, women's desk chief of Subangdaku Police Station, said she learned in an interview with the victim that the two first met back in July at the Mandaue Bridge Park.
On their first meeting, the girl was with her two relatives and the suspect allegedly befriended and gave them money.
Last July 19, the victim also alleged she and her friend were also brought by the suspect to another mall at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City where the suspect just parked his car outside the said mall and then began touching their private parts before handing money to them.
Peñaflor advised the minor to have herself checked at the Pink Room of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center as the results of the medical examination will be used as basis in filing of a rape case against the councilman.
The FREEMAN contacted Ibabao Barangay Hall in an attempt to get the councilman's side, but to no avail. (FREEMAN)