A 25-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy inside his room in Barangay Kantangkas, Dumanjug town, southwest Cebu on Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2022.

The suspect (name withheld to protect the boy) was a former glass installer who resigned from his job four months ago.

Senior Master Sergeant Josephina Beriamente, investigator from the Women and Children's Protection Desk, told SunStar Cebu that the victim was assaulted twice.

The first incident happened on April 2022 and the second around 4 p.m. Saturday, August 27.

The illicit acts were discovered when the boy told his mother about his ordeal noon of the following day, Sunday.

Master Sergeant Romeo Legaspi Jr., desk officer of Dumanjug Police Station, said the mother of the victim went to their station and reported the incident around 1 p.m. of the same day.

Police later arrested the suspect, who was heading to a gymnasium with his cousin to play volleyball.

"Gipaom-om ni niya ang bata sa iyang kinatawo kay matud sa suspek mo-uban-uban man ni niya, iya ra tawgon unya maghikap-hikap daw niya ning bataa, maglambing mao natintal siya kay matud niya nga gimingaw siya sa iyang uyab nga tua sa layu," Legaspi said.

(He let the child do oral sex because the latter would always go with him and caress him, thus he was tempted because his girlfriend is far from him).

It was learned that the suspect also assaulted three minor girls aged 8, 14 and 17, all his neighbors, in 2020.

No details, however, were provided on how she assaulted the minors.

The suspect admitted to his mistakes and regretted doing it.

The suspect is now detained in Dumanjug Police Station, waiting for the filing of charges in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Child Abuse Law) against him. (GDC, TPT)