Rape suspect nabbed after 7 years on the run in Nueva Ecija


GEN. TINIO, Nueva Ecija – A 38-year-old poultry helper who allegedly raped and killed an elementary school teacher seven years ago in Bicol was arrested by the police in his workplace in Barangay Las Piñas, Peñaranda, this province, last Friday.

Investigator-on-case Police Senior Master Sgt. Julius Almera identified the suspect as Benie Samaupan of Barangay Capriricuhan, Bulusan, Sorsogon.

The suspect was arrested thru an alias arrest warrant issued by Judge Bernardo Jimenez of the Sorsogon Regional Trial Court, according to Almera.

Police Major Arnel Jose Gueronga, Gubat, Sorsogon police chief, said the suspect was identified by witnesses as the man who raped and killed 23-year-old teacher Roda Fortes sometime in 2014.

"Brutal po ang pagkamatay ng biktima, kasi makaraang gahasain, pinukpok pa ng bato sa ulo pagkatapos pinasakan pa ng kahoy sa puwit saka inihulog sa gilid ng bangin (The victim was brutally killed. After she was raped, the victim was hit in the head with a stone. A piece of wood was inserted in her behind and her body was dumped in a ravine)," Gueronga said.

"Actually, the victim was just a newly hired teacher, maganda po siya (she is beautiful). Lagi raw pong nagdadaan sa tapat ng bahay ng suspek si ma'am, siguro pinagnasaan kaya ginahasa, saka pinatay pa (The victim always passed by the suspect’s house. The suspect allegedly had a carnal desire on the victim, a possible reason why she was raped).”

Gueronga also said that the suspect's estranged wife testified that Samaupan indeed raped and killed the teacher.

The suspect was collared by joint operatives from the CIDG Camp Crame, Nueva Ecija Police Police Intelligence Unit, and Sorsogon, Peñaranda, and Gen. Tinio police stations.
Samapuan denied that he raped the victim.