A construction worker and two abaca strippers were apprehended by units of the Catanduanes police last week in connection with separate criminal cases of statutory rape and acts of lasciviousness committed against their young daughters.
First to fall was a certain “Ed,” a 41-year-old construction worker from Cabcab, San Andres who was collared by joint elements of the San Andres police station, Catanduanes Maritime Law Enforcement Team and the Baras police station in barangay San Lorenzo, Baras at 5 PM of April 26, 2024.
He is facing twin charges of rape and statutory rape before the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 42 Acting Presiding Judge Ritche Reyes Regala with no bail recommended for the two cases.
The following day, April 27, at 9:45 AM, a similar arrest warrant was served on a 57-year-old abaca stripper identified only as “Vic,” by personnel of the San Andres MPS, Catanduanes Maritime LET, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Catanduanes Provincial Field Unit, and the Regional Intelligence Unit 5, Provincial Intelligence Team 6.
The suspect went peacefully with the arresting team and will be presented this week before the RTC Branch 42 where he is facing three counts of statutory rape, all with no bail recommended.
He is also charged with two counts of acts of lasciviousness, with recommended bail of P180,000 each.
The report said the crimes were committed against his own 13-year-old daughter sometime last February 2024.
Just 10 minutes later, also in Baras, operatives of the Gigmoto police, CIDG Catanduanes, Baras MPS and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) apprehended a certain “Raul,” a 48-year-old abaca stripper who has been charged with four separate cases of sexual abuse perpetrated against his 15-year-old daughter.
According to the warrant issued by RTC Branch 42, he has been charged with Qualified Statutory Rape with bail set at P180,000, Lascivious Conduct under Section 5 (B) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act with P200,000 bail amount, and two counts of Acts of Lasciviousness with bail set at P180,000 each.
All three men are reportedly listed as Regional Most Wanted Persons by the Bicol police authorities.
Following their arrest, the police advised parents to keep a close eye on their children even inside the home and to teach them the limitations of and difference between “good touch” and “bad touch” while they are young.
It called on the public to know the police hotline numbers which they can call for help and asked them not to hesitate in reporting any incident to the authorities, the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) at police stations, barangay officials, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other agencies or trusted individuals who can be of help to the police in the fight against sexual abuse.