CEBU CITY – A 48-year-old man was accused of repeatedly raping his two grandchildren in Lapu-Lapu City.
The victims were sexually abused for the past six years and it was only last week that the siblings aged 14 and 17 had the courage to report their suffering to authorities.
The victims lived with their grandparents as they shouldered their studies. The victims said their grandfather would rape them when their 60-year-old grandmother was away.
Shortly after the abuse was reported to the Police Station 2 of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO), the suspect was arrested not for the rape accusations but for illegal drug charges.
Police Lt. Col. Christian Torres, information officer of LLCPO, the suspect was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation. It was learned that the suspect was jailed in the past for drug charges.
The victims told police that there were times that they were sexually abused while they sleeping.
The last abuse allegedly happened on Jan. 9. It was on that day that the 14-year-old victim finally confided their fate to her teacher.
The 14-year-old girl later told her parents about the crime. After learning that her sister finally told their parents about it, the 17-year-old girl also informed their parents that she too suffered the same fate.
Their parents went to the police station on Monday, Jan. 13, the same day that the suspect was arrested in a buy-bust operation.
The suspect denied raping the siblings but admitted touching the victims’ private parts.
Torres said the suspect’s admission can still be considered rape. Police said the suspect also admitted that he was using illegal drugs.