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Saturday, December 13, 2003
Mabalacat cops arrest 3 serial rape suspects
By Rhay G. Navales
MABALACAT, Pampanga -- Three out of four suspects believed to be responsible in at least two rape cases in this town were arrested in a series of hot pursuit operation conducted by the Angeles City and Porac police Thursday night.
Supt. Rosve C. Manulid, town police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Jerome Francisco, 27, married, of 5033 Abad Santos St. Capaya II, Angeles City; Ronald Castro, 22, single and Henry Williams, 17, single, both residents of Lazatin St. Capaya II, Angeles City.
Manulid said the other suspect identified as Reynaldo Palo, was able to elude arrest after escaping at the back of his residence in Barangay Manibaug Pasig in Porac town.
Reports said that Maricris Bulanday (not her real name), 18, of Bamban, Tarlac was raped by the suspects inside a passenger jeepney at about 3 a.m. in Barangay Tabun here.
Bulanday was able to report the incident to the Bamban police after the suspects freed her.
Bamban police officers accompanied the victim to the Mabalacat Police Station and reported the incident to Manulid who immediately ordered his men to pursue the suspects.
Bulanday revealed to Manulid and PO1 Grace Garcia, town police Women and Children Concern Desk officer, that the passenger jeepney the suspects used has a "Plaridel-Capaya via Pandan" route markings and a license plate number CWP 155.
SPO2 Rolando G. Agnes, also a resident of Capaya II who heard the victim's statement, informed Manulid that he knew the subject vehicle as it always passed by his residence.
Manulid immediately formed two teams of policemen to conduct hot pursuit operation in Barangay Capaya II in Angeles City where Francisco, who was about to return home, was arrested at about 10 p.m. on Thursday.
Francisco revealed to policemen the identities of his three companions and that they are hiding at Palo's residence in Manibaug, Porac, where Williams and Castro were arrested.
Manulid disclosed that Palo was able to escape in their follow-up operation.
Manulid said they invited Elvie Tanglao (not her real name), 24, of Barangay Dauto, to identify if the suspects are the same persons who raped her.
The three suspects matched the description of Tanglao about the three unidentified individuals who sexually abused her.
Tanglao positively identified the arrested suspects as the ones who raped her inside a passenger jeepney in Greenville Subdivision at about 8:30 p.m. on November 17, 2003.
The suspects are now detained at the Mabalacat Police Station while facing charges in court for violating Republic Act No. 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
(December 13, 2003 issue)
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