By Jennifer P. Rendon
A man who used to work as a public utility jeepney (PUJ) driver was arrested early morning of June 10, 2021 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo for child abuse charges.
Kenneth Legaste, 46, was collared at his home in Phase 4, Deca Homes Subdivision in Barangay Balabag, Sta. Barbara.
Members of the PNP Anti Kidnapping Group (AKG)-Visayas Field Unit and Sta. Barbara Police Station arrested Legaste by virtue of an arrest warrant for rape (under Article 226-A of the RPC) and violation of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
Judge Gemalyn Faunillo Tarol of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 76 in Janiuay, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on May 27, 2021.
No bail was set for the rape charge while an P80,000 bail was recommended for the RA 7610 case.
Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara Police Station, said the complainant was a 16-year-old girl whom Legaste sent to school.
According to the complaint, Legaste allegedly abused the minor sometime in September 2019 in Lambunao town.
The incident came into the open in April 2020 after the girl’s mother discovered that she was pregnant.
The Legaste couple used to have a house in Bagangay Tubungan, Lambunao but decided to sell it recently and moved to a newly acquired unit in Deca Homes.
The suspect is now detained for proper disposition of his case.
