A man was arrested on Thursday, March 13, for raping and molesting two children, aged eight and seven, who were friends with his daughter in Marikina City.
The Eastern Police District (EPD) identified the suspect as “Buboy,” 39, who fled to Sorsogon in an attempt to evade arrest.
Buboy was arrested in a joint operation by the Marikina City Police Station, the Sorsogon Provincial Police Office's 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, the Prieto Diaz Municipal Police Station, and the Warrant and Subpoena Unit by virtue of three warrants of arrest.
The warrants of arrest were issued in Nov. 2024 by the acting presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 192 in Marikina City for rape, two counts of child abuse, and three counts of acts of lasciviousness.
According to authorities, the suspect was a neighbor and the father of the victims' friend. They said the victims would visit his house to watch TV and play with his child, but he took advantage of them during these visits in March 2024.
They said that the eight-year-old victim was molested, while her seven-year-old cousin was raped.
EPD Acting District Director Col. Villamor Q. Tuliao condemned the abuse suffered by the victims and vowed to intensify efforts to protect children and ensure their safety within the district.
“Nakakadurog ng puso ang nangyari sa mga inosenteng bata. Paglalaro at kasiyahan lang sana ang nasa kanilang isipan ngunit sa murang edad ay naranasan na nila ang karahasan ng isang mapagsamantala sa kanilang kahinaan (It is heartbreaking to hear what happened to these innocent children. They should have only been thinking about playing and having fun, but at such a young age, they were subjected to the cruelty of someone who preyed on their vulnerability),” he said.
"At dahil dito ay pag-iigtingin pa natin ang pagprotekta at pagpapanatili ng kaligtasan sa buong EPD, nang sa gayon ay kundi mang tuluyang mawala ay mabawasan ang mga batang naaabuso (Because of this, we will intensify our efforts to protect and ensure the safety of our communities within the EPD. If we cannot completely eradicate child abuse, we will at least work to minimize it),” he added.
The suspect is currently detained at the Prieto Diaz Municipal Police Station and is being prepared for transfer to the Marikina City Police Station.