LUMBAN, Laguna – Two men were arrested for allegedly robbing and raping an 18-year-old student and his female friend here on Friday, Nov. 11.
A report to Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, Laguna police director, identified the suspects as Danilo Barimbad Jr. and Joseph de los Reyes.
The victims told police that they were on the lakeside in Barangay Caliraya at 11 p.m. on Friday when the suspects arrived and robbed them of their cellphones at gunpoint.
The victims were forced to board a tricycle and were taken to a forested area in Barangay Lewin where they were beaten and the female victim raped.
The suspects fled and were arrested in a follow-up operation on Saturday, Nov. 12, in this town when police passed by a tricycle that matched the victims' description of the getaway tricycle.
Lawmen recovered the stolen items in the suspects’ house. Also recovered from the suspects were the pink underwear of the female victim and the gun used in the crime that turned out to be a replica.
The suspects’ live-in partners were arrested after they attempted to cover up their involvement in the crime.
Police found out that Barimbad had previous drug cases and was released on probation in 2020 and on bail in 2014.
Appropriate cases are being prepared against the suspects.