By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 14-year-old girl accused her uncle of sexually molesting her early evening of January 6, 2021 in Sara, Iloilo.
The victim, a Grade 7 student, immediately told her family about what happened. The latter then reported the incident to the police, who immediately arrested the 23-year-old suspect who is a native of Quezon City.
The suspect and the victim’s father are second cousins.
The suspect has been living with relatives after he got stranded during the COVID-19-related lockdown.
The suspect has a live-in partner in Quezon City with whom he has two children.
Police Major Jose Nemias Pamplona, Sara police chief, said the alleged rape happened after the victim and suspect attended a birthday party.
The suspect allegedly lured the teenager to go to a waterfall.
But instead of going there, the suspect forced the girl inside an abandoned hut where the alleged rape happened.
An inquest case for rape (Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997) with carnal knowledge in relation to RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) was filed against the suspect.
During the quarantine period last year, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6 reported that 32% of rape cases in Western Visayas were perpetrated by the victims’ kin and relatives.
PRO-6 records showed that 307 rape incidents were reported from March to September 2020.
Ninety-nine cases were either incest (21 cases) or committed by a husband/lover (11 cases) and relative at 67.
A greater number, 231 cases or 42.67%, of rape were committed by other persons known to the victim.
Only 77 incidents had strangers as suspects.
