Girl, 9, gang-raped in Argao; police arrest uncle, 3 others

Victim accuses uncle, five co-workers of raping her behind a beach resort in Barangay Talaga, Argao, Cebu; uncle says the girl “tempted him”

SIX CONSTRUCTION workers reportedly raped a nine-year-old Grade 2 pupil in Barangay Talaga, Argao town on Monday afternoon, March 25.

Argao Police Chief Rolan Aliser led his team in arresting four of the six suspects, including the girl’s uncle on Tuesday night, March 26.

The police official said he had observed that the girl’s parents did not plan to file complaints against suspects.

Aliser, however, said the police can file the complaints against the suspects. He will also consult the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to determine the specific charges they can lodge against the parents.

Initial investigation showed that at 3 p.m. Monday, March 25, the victim approached the suspects, who were drinking near the construction site.

The girl’s uncle grabbed her. He then dragged her to a grassy area and raped her.

The girl told the police that she was not able to resist her uncle’s advances, as threatened her with a knife.

Afterwards, the five other men took turns in raping the victim.

Terrified, the girl told her mother and neighbors about the incident, but they reportedly did not believe her.

On Tuesday morning, March 26, the girl went to school and told her teacher that she was sexually assaulted by her uncle and his companions. The teacher then sought the help of the police.

Aliser said the girl’s uncle admitted committing the crime, but the three other suspects denied involvement.

“Ang ingon sa uyoan nga natintal daw siya sa iyang pag-umangkon kay nag-una-una, sige niyag pasabak samtang sila nag-inom (The uncle said he was tempted by his niece, who sat on his lap while he was drinking with his friends),” he said.

Aliser said the girl was traumatized, and she was often silent during the interview with an officer from the Women and Children’s Protection Desk.

The girl was brought to the DSWD 7 office for stress debriefing. She was examined at the Pink Room of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City on Wednesday morning, March 27.

Aliser said his team had identified the two construction workers, who are still at large.

The suspects will be charged with rape in relation to Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor. /