‘Tatay’ arrested for abusing 3 minors
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)
Anonas Police Station (PS 9), and Pampanga Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3), arrested a male suspect for qualified trafficking, child abuse and sexual harassment of three male minors during an operation in Pampanga on Tuesday, 20 August.
In a report submitted to QCPD director Police Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel Jr., Police Lt. Col. Cipriano Galanida identified the suspect as Michael Patrick Gulapa, 48, a resident of Barangay Saguin, Pampanga City.
A report showed that the 12-year old minors were last seen together at about 6 p.m., 8 July along Maginhawa Street, Barangay Teachers Village East, Quezon City.
On 3 August, one of the minors contacted his sister through social media and informed her that he and his companions were in Sevilla, Binondo, Manila.
On 14 August, he again contacted his sister and informed her that they were in V. Luna St., Quezon City under the care of alias “Tatay.”
At that instance, the complainant sought assistance from Karen Carrasco of Barangay
Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) of Barangay Krus na Ligas, which was also relayed the information to PS 9. However, when operatives validated the information given by the sister, the minors were not at either location. They immediately coordinated with different units within the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces to gather information relative with the possible location of the victims.
At about 1 p.m. 20 August, the victims together with their parents appeared at PS 9. According to them, the victims were dropped and left along C.P. Garcia Avenue, near Sarha, Barangay Krus na Ligas at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, 19 August.
The minors told the police they were brought by alias “Tatay” somewhere in Pampanga.
At about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, PS 9 personnel in coordination with the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 3 arrested Gulapa at his residence at Barangay Saguin, Pampanga City.
When the suspect was presented to the minors, they identified him as the same person who detained them and used them for sexual slavery.
The minors are now under the custody of their respective parents and will undergo counselling at the Quezon City Social Services Development office.
Cases of qualified trafficking, violations of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), and RA 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997) were filed against the suspect before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office.