Man arrested for sexually abusing 7-year-old stepdaughter in Mandaluyong
close up of hand in jail background.
The Eastern Police District (EPD) said Friday, Dec. 12, that a 39-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing his then seven-year-old stepdaughter in Mandaluyong City.
The suspect, identified as “Tito Marbie,” tagged as the No. 1 most wanted person at the district level, was arrested during a manhunt operation conducted by the EPD-District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) for the crime of qualified rape of a minor. The arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the presiding judge of the Family Court, Branch 5, Mandaluyong City, on Dec. 10, at around 8:45 p.m. in Barangay Burol, Mandaluyong.
Based on their investigation, the victim, who was seven years old at the time, is the suspect’s stepdaughter. The alleged abuse reportedly occurred repeatedly from September 2015 to January 2016 whenever the victim’s mother was at work.
Authorities said the victim first told her mother about the alleged abuse, but her mother did not believe her. Fearing her stepfather, she sought shelter first with her grandmother and later with her biological father.
After several years, she was taken in by her aunt, to whom she eventually disclosed the alleged abuse by her stepfather.
Following the disclosure, the aunt and the victim promptly went to the police station to file the appropriate charges against the suspect, which led to his arrest.
EPD vowed to continue performing its duties and to hold those who commit crimes accountable.
“Hindi kailanman magkakaroon ng puwang sa ating lipunan ang anumang uri ng karahasan o pang-aabuso. Ang EPD kasama ang buong hanay ng kapulisan, ay mananatiling matatag sa pagtupad ng aming tungkuling hanapin, habulin, at papanagutin ang sinumang lalabag sa batas, nang may katapatan at walang pinapaboran (There will never be a place in our society for any form of violence or abuse. EPD, together with all its personnel, will remain steadfast in carrying out its duty to locate, pursue, and hold accountable anyone who violates the law, with integrity and without favoritism),” EDP Director Brig. Gen. Aden Lagradante said.
The suspect is currently held at the Mandaluyong City Police Station custodial facility.