LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police arrested two rape suspects during intensified campaign under ‘Oplan Lambat Sibat’ in separate areas in Kalinga and Benguet provinces on Thursday.
Capt. Marnie Abellanida, deputy regional information officer of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, opted not to reveal the names of the suspects for the safety of the victim.
Abellanida said the Rizal Municipal Police Station in Kalinga arrested the province's number 9 most wanted person, a 33-year-old resident of Sitio Andarayan, Santor, Rizal, Kalinga.
The suspect was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Jerson Eckman Angog of Branch 25, Regional Trial Court, Second Judicial Region, Tabuk City, Kalinga for the crime of rape. No bail was recommended.
During the investigation at the Rizal MPS, a 17-year-old woman filed a complaint, detailing that in March 2021, the suspect allegedly invited her to take a walk somewhere for which she agreed even though she did not know where they were going.
The victim rode the suspect's motorcycle towards Tabuk City, until they reached Sitio Spring, Liwan West and walked to the grassy area to talk and eat the food they brought. Later, the suspect suddenly laid the victim down on the grass and allegedly raped her.
Meanwhile in Benguet, Abellanida reported that the Itogon MPS in Benguet, on May 15, arrested a rape suspect for allegedly abusing his stepdaughter from 2014 at the age of 13 until 2019.
It was found out that the suspect was the victim’s foster parent. Aside from sexually abusing the victim, the suspect also physically abused the victim from 2014 to 2022.
The most recent incident of physical abuse occurred in April 2022 where the suspect hit the victim’s back with the speaker and then punched him.
The victim's family sought the help of Benguet Caretaker Eric Yap when he conducted an outreach activity in Sabkil, Itogon, Benguet on April 18,2022.
With Yap's quick legal assistance, the case was immediately filed and a warrant of arrest was issued and the suspect was arrested in his hiding place in Barangay Kias, Baguio City.