TACLOBAN City - Authorities have filed rape charges against a caretaker of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine facility for allegedly raping a 44-year-old locally stranded individual in Villaba, Leyte.
Acting Villaba Police Chief Lt. Ricky Rubillos identified the suspect as Ronie Condes, 49, a job order employee of the Villaba municipal government.
The victim was supposed to leave the quarantine facility last Monday, August 17, after posting negative results in her swab test for COVID-19.
But the victim alleged that she was raped twice by the suspect on August 15 and August 17, which she reported to the nurse in the quarantine facility.
She also claimed that the suspect threatened to kill her if she would report the incident to the authorities.
Rubillos said the suspect was arrested Monday night, August 17, after a hot pursuit operation by the Villaba Tracker Team.
‘‘We are very thankful that the victim did not hesitate to ask assistance from our troop for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator. She is brave and courageous enough to come out despite the threats posed by her perpetrator," he said.
Villaba Mayor Jorge Veloso, who ordered the arrest of the suspect, stressed that he will not tolerate such abuse.
He immediately terminated the suspect from his post.