A 72-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in an internet cafe in Barangay Bitoon, Dumanjug town, southern Cebu Sunday afternoon, August 21, 2022.

The suspect (name withheld to protect the girl) was known for being a gambler.

Master Sergeant Romeo Legaspi Jr., desk officer of Dumanjug Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that the victim was assaulted twice already.

The girl confessed to police that the suspect would give her candies and chicharons so she would agree to what the suspect wanted.

The incident happened around 4:50 p.m. of August 21 and was reported around 6:50 p.m. after some children saw what the suspect was doing to the child.

Barangay tanods (watchmen) reviewed a closed circuit television (CCTV) footage and saw the suspect inserting his finger to the victim’s genitals. The tanods then reported the incident to police.

"Naghuwat pa mi sa medical sa bata para inig ka August 22, Lunes, makompleto na ang documents ug mapasakaan na og kaso ang suspek sa iyang gibuhat sa bata," Legaspi said.

(We are waiting for the medical report on the child so we can file the case against the suspect on Monday, August 22.)

The suspect was arrested around 7 p.m. Sunday, August 21, during a hot pursuit operation.

He was placed in the custody of the Dumanjug police and will face charges for rape by sexual assault in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Child Abuse Law), said Legaspi. (GDC)