9 year-old bakwit molested
Girl went out at 3 am to buy food when picked up by two yet unidentified men on a motorcycle
A 9 year-old bakwit from Sitio Camansi, Banglay, in Lagonglong town, Misamis Oriental escaped from a supposed rape attempt by two unidentified suspects, Tuesday dawn, June 5.
Police said the girl was allegedly abducted by two unidentified men on board a motorcycle when she was about to cross the street to buy food at around 3:00 a.m.
The 9 year-old girl is among the 161 evacuees who have set up camp at the Capitol park after fleeing from clashes between soldiers and communist rebels in Lagonglong town.
Chief Inspector Julius Clark Macariola, Police Station 1 commander,
said the two still unidentified perpetrators supposedly brought the victim under the JR Borja bridge where they attempted the rape but the girl managed to escape.
The girl was without her undergarments when she was brought to the police
station by a concerned citizen. “Ingon siya she was molested unya natumba man daw ang motor mao tong nakadagan siya. Naka t-shirt siya kay iya daw short nasangit mao iyang nalang gitanggal. Nagkalapok pa siya gamay ug walay tsinelas (The girl said she was molested. The motorcycle they were riding crashed allowing her to escape. She was only wearing a T-shirt, without her slippers and she had mud all over),” Macariola said.
Macariola said the victim will undergo medical examination while the case is being investigated.
Sariza Acosta, spokesperson of the evacuees, said they may not have noticed if all the children were accounted for because parents were busy transferring belongings to the capitol kiosk due to heavy rains.
She said the incident caused fear and trauma to the victim.
Acosta said the attempted rape makes their return home even more urgent and urged Capitol officials to convince the military to pull out from their community so they can return home the soonest. The military has already issued a statement claiming they have pulled out from the community.
“Makita nako nga naapektuhan gyud siya kay bright na siya nga bata pero after sa incident mura siyag gakahadlok ug na-trauma (The girl is obviously traumatized. She is a bright girl but is now fearful ),”Acosta said.
The head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWD) said the victim will be processed so appropriate actions can be taken.
PSWD office head Emelia Andea said the child can also be temporarily taken away from the encampment if needed.
“We will have to call the attention of DSWD,” Andea said.
overnor Yevgeny Emano has ordered the different offices in the capitol to take turns in looking after the welfare of the displaced families and ensure that all needs such as food and medicines are addressed.