Accused in baby rape case cleared of charges

After DNA tests yielded negative results, the Regional Trial Court has cleared a 40-year-old man accused of abducting and raping a four-month-old baby girl in Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City last year.

Judge Ester Veloso found no sufficient evidence to hold Jonathan "Jojo" Marpe criminally liable after the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test yielded negative results.

“Based on the report, the blood found in the victim's sweatshirt belonged only to her. The blood found in the carton and the jogging pants belonged only to the accused,” read the joint order.

On February 14, 2016, the Carcar City Prosecutor's Office charged Marpe with statutory rape with kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Allegedly, Marpe abducted and raped a four-month-old baby on February 9, 2016.

In the follow-up investigation, the police arrested Marpe while he was having a drinking spree outside a neighbor's house.

Police recovered a bloodstained green shirt in the house of the accused. The t-shirt was believed to have been worn by the accused when he allegedly committed the crime.

Marpe earlier denied the allegations filed against him. He claimed that he had been at home with his live-in partner when the rape incident allegedly took place.

Thus, he sought for the dismissal of the case.

Veloso ruled to dismiss the case giving weight to the DNA result.