Saturday, August 21, 2004 Man arrested for trying to rape high school coed By Joy G. Romares
A 53-YEAR-OLD man was arrested by police after he was accused of attempting to rape a third-year high school student in his house in Piapi, Quezon Boulevard, Davao City, Thursday night.
Now detained at the Sta. Ana Police Precinct is one Leopoldo Bronce, 53, self-employed, resident of block 63, Barangay 21-C in Piapi, Quezon Boulevard.
Police said Bronce attempted to rape Aimee (not her real name), 15, an usher of "last two" game.
Information gathered by Sun.Star Davao showed that Aimee, who lives a few meters from the suspect's house, was allegedly invited by the drunk Bronce inside his house as the latter will place his bet for "last two" game.
Aimee reportedly went inside the house, but to her surprise, Bronce allegedly locked the front door.
Aimee told the police that Bronce inserted his hands inside her short pants and touched her private parts repeatedly.
Aimee claimed despite her resistance, the suspect dragged her inside his room and told her to stop crying.
A few minutes later, Alba, Bronce's brother, arrived and knocked on the door.
"Nigawas siya (Bronce) kadali sa kwarto, niabot diay iyang manghod ato
pero nibalik siya, gi-try niya nga hubuan ko pero nagsige ko og hilak ug
giingnan nako siya nga mosinggit ko (He went out of the room because his brother arrived. When he returned, he tried to undress me but I kept on crying and I told him that I will shout if he will not stop)," Aimee added.
Aimee allegedly managed to run outside Bronce's house and told her mother Edna about the incident. They then reported the incident to the police.
Elements of the Jacinto police along with two Police Volunteer Group (PVG) members arrested the suspect at his sister's house and turned him over to the Police Precinct 1.
In an interview, Bronce said his wife is an employee of Felcris Department store in Magsaysay Avenue, this city.
"Wala man siya ato, alas siyete pa man iyang gawas sa Felcris (She was not there that time because she arrives home at 7. She is working at Felcris Department store)," Bronce told Sun.Star Davao.
Bronce denied the accusations against him.
"Wala nako siya gihilabtan, wala pod nako siya gihubuan. Ginaamin nako nga
hubog ko pero wala nako gihimo nang iyang mga giingon. Gigunitan lang nako
siya sa kamot ug gikusi-kusi lang nako iyang aping. Wala ko nagtuo nga
iyaha diay lahion pagsabot ang akong mga gibuhat, perme man gud nako na
siya gina-atik-atik, wala lang man pod sa iyaha (I did not undress her, and I did nothing wrong. I admit that I was drunk, but I did not do what she said. I just held her arms and pinched her face. I did not expect that she will take it maliciously. I often do it to her and she only ignores me)," Bronce added.
Bronce claimed he did not invite Aimee to his house because she went inside his house without his consent.
"Wala nako siya gitawag, tingala gani ko nganong nisulod siya. Wala lang pod ko kay perme man na siya nagasulod-sulod gud sa akong balay. Mangutana pa gani na siya usahay kung naa ba daw akong asawa kay mahadlok man siya sa akong misis (I did invite her to come in. I was even surprised when I saw her inside my house. Sometimes, she would ask me if my wife was around, she was afraid of my wife)," Bronce said.
"Gusto lang unta nako maistorya ang pamilya ba kay mangayo ko og pasaylo, i-areglo na lang unta ni (I want to talk with the victim's family so I could ask for forgiveness. I hope they will settle this case with me)," Bronce said.
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