Sta. Fe police arrest Estonian national for rape complaint

Police arrested an Estonian national for allegedly raping an 18-year-old high school graduate twice in a beach resort in Barangay Pooc, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island yesterday dawn.

Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) chief SPO2 Sheila Ilustrisimo identified the suspect as Xander Tann, who may also face trafficking charges.

The foreigner denied the allegations against him, telling the police that he was set-up.

Tann allegedly first picked up a 15-year-old girl. He left her after he was chased by a police officer whom he almost hit with his vehicle in Bantayan last Tuesday night.

In the Sta. Fe incident, the 29-year-old suspect and Simone (not her real name) reportedly met on a dating website last May. The foreigner allegedly professed his love for her.

“He wanted to meet her in person, but the victim refused,” said Ilustrisimo in a phone interview.

Simone did not cut off her communication with Tann, who arrived in Cebu four months ago. She continued chatting with Tann as a friend.

Vacation

Last week, Simone, a resident of Mandaue City, went to her aunt’s house in Barangay Malbago, Madridejos for a vacation. She told Tann about her trip .

Tann then traveled from Lapu-Lapu City and arrived in Bantayan Island last Saturday without Simone’s knowledge.

He sent a video message to Simone and allegedly used Google maps in locating Malbago and Simone’s aunt’s house.

Tann was at first friendly to Simone and went island-hopping with her relatives.

Past 9 p.m. last Tuesday, Tann almost hit a police officer with his vehicle in Bantayan and escaped arrest.

He arrived in Simone’s house drunk. Bantayan Police Station then informed the Sta. Fe police about him.

Simone’s relatives told her to accompany the foreigner as they were already sleepy.

Tann later asked Simone to go with him to buy more beer in Barangay Poblacion.

She initially refused but eventually obliged, thinking that Tann would not harm her.

While inside the car, Simone noticed that Tann did not stop to find a store. She told him to stop the vehicle, but he refused.

They went straight to Bantayan, where Tann bought beer. Simone later fell asleep in the car.

When she woke up, Simone learned that they were in a beach resort.

She tried to escape, but Tann allegedly grabbed her and forced her into a room. The resort reportedly had no guard at the time of the incident.

The foreigner then allegedly raped her twice past 3 a.m. yesterday.

Three policemen from Sta. Fe Police Station located the foreigner’s car in the beach resort and looked for him.

Tann opened his room’s door after he heard someone knocking.

Simone dashed outside after he saw the officers and screamed that she was raped by the suspect. Police then arrested Tann. /