DAVAO City– Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 has set to file charges against two suspects accused in the rape of a 14-year-old Manobo girl from Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
The girl was one of the lumads who sought refuge inside the UCCP Haran after leaving their community Talaingod due to alleged militarization and harassment in the area. She was spirited away by the social workers and the police during the forced eviction in Haran last month.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Regional Director for Operation (DRDO) Sr. Supt. Aaron Aquino identified the suspects as only alias “Galot” who is about 40 years of age and alias “Daniel” more or less 20 years old.
Aquino could not say if the suspects were members of the military as alleged by militant leaders.
He said he would know only until the social worker from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) submits the report on the girl’s condition although medical findings revealed the girl was sexually abused.
“We are just waiting for the case summary report of the social workers from Talaingod, and after that we will file the case within the week,” Aquino said.
Aquino also confirmed that there was rape committed to the victim. “Sabi ko nga (As I said) it doesn’t need penetration to commit rape, just by touching it, it constitute rape already. Natapos na lahat yung medical examination ng bata and yung report nalang ng social worker from Talaingod ang kulang (All the medical examinations on the child have been completed and it is only the report of the social worker from Talaingod is lacking),” Aquino added.
The rape incident though happened in Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod prior to the evacuation of the lumads to this city.
Meanwhile, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Col. Eduardo Gubat, said they were willing to cooperate in the investigation of the rape incident.
Previously, progressive group PASAKA first claimed that a member of the military was the one behind the rape incident. (PNA)
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