Monday, August 25, 2008 Cops arrest man who tried to rape girl, 12
A FACTORY worker was arrested after he allegedly tried to rape his 12-year-old neighbor before dawn yesterday in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.
The weight of suspect Jesus Paglinawan, 30, as he tried to have sex with her woke Linda (not real name) up and prompted her to scream for help. Her mother, who was asleep in another room, rushed to her aid.
The victim’s mother said she saw the suspect rushing out from her daughter’s room.
PO2 Vicente Gila, desk officer of Umapad Police Station, said the commotion woke the other neighbors up. They negotiated with the family of Paglinawan and asked
them to give him up. The others called up the police station for assistance.
After Paglinawan left Linda’s room, he went back to his house, but another neighbor and the victim’s mother victim chased him.
He went out to surrender only when police came.
The victim said that before the incident, the suspect occasionally talked to her and gave her money, which, she accepted without thinking that her neighbor had an ulterior motive.
Gila said the suspect is currently detained at the police precinct, pending the filing of a case for attempted rape.
“Sa testimony sa bata there was no rape, because she still had her clothes on. So did the suspect,” he said.
In Consolacion, a 15-year-old girl’s testimony may send a man to jail for selling her as a prostitute.
Consolacion police saved Angela (not her real name) from a friend who allegedly tried to “sell” her for P700.
A certain Onyot is now facing a complaint for violation of the Anti-trafficking in Persons Act after a sting operation in Barangay Pulpogan II, Consolacion.
Police Station Chief Leoncio Baliguat Jr. signed the complaint against Onyot.
Angela, a third year high school student, said in a sworn statement that Onyot summoned her last Aug. 16.
On her way to their meeting place, however, her sister’s boyfriend told her that her family was waiting for her at the police station.
Onyot, by then, was already arrested by the police.
Her sister’s boyfriend posed as her supposed customer and negotiated with Onyot, who allegedly demanded P700.
The boyfriend signed a supplemental affidavit to support the complaint against Onyot.
The operation led to the revelation that it was not the first time that Onyot tried to have Angela sell her flesh.
She said that on June 23, when she temporarily stayed at Onyot’s house, he told her that a customer was waiting for her.
“I refused his demand and suddenly he got mad then threatened and forced me to go with the customer in the motel, which was against my will and consent,” she said in a sworn statement. (AIV/JGA)
