PNP chief vows justice for Bulacan rape-slay victim

CITY OF MALOLOS – The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed that justice would be served to the family of a 15-year-old rape-slay victim in this province.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Sunday that he ordered a continued investigation to build an airtight case against the suspect, Gaspar Maneja Jr., alias Jose Francisco Santos, who was nabbed following a joint manhunt operation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-5) and personnel of Bulacan Police Provincial Office in Barangay Veneracion, Pamplona, Camarines Sur last Aug. 18.

“Our personnel don’t sleep on cases. They make sure that they are built on strong information gathering to search and arrest the perpetrator of the crime. Following this is the filing of necessary charges against an arrested suspect,” Azurin said in a statement.

The suspect was positively recognized by witnesses as the last known companion of the victim whose body was discovered in a grassy area of a bypass road in Barangay Bonga Menor, Bustos, this province last Aug. 12, two days after she went missing.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect has three outstanding warrants of arrest for violation of Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (Anti-Child Abuse Law); and rape with no bail recommended.

Criminal complaints of rape, homicide and using a fictitious name were filed against the suspect before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in this city under Senior Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Catherine E. Rutor-Reyes. (PNA)