Gangape victim seeks NBI help after police freed 3 of 5 suspects

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
and JOHN PAUL BARSOPIA
Contributor

AN alleged gang rape victim yesterday sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after police released three of five suspects due to technicalities.

The alleged victim, a 20-year old, said five men, including her boyfriend, took turns in raping her inside a house at the relocation site in Sitio Cala-anan, Barangay Canito-an, on Sunday night.

Delia (not her real name) alleged that she was with her boyfriend AJ Cabalo because it was Valentine’s Day but was caught by surprise when four of his friends followed them to the house.

She alleged that the 21-year old Cabalo was the first to force her and the four others followed one by one.

Delia identified two of the suspects as Daniel Sapilan, 21, and ET Cabana.

At the NBI, Delia said she did not trust the police after they released Cabalo, Sapilan, and Cabana.

She said SPO1 Randy Strada of the Macabalan police “arrested” three of the five suspects, and then turned them over to the Bulua police station on Monday. But then, the Bulua police freed the suspects.

SPO3 Joselita Pagtalonan, chief of the Bulua police’s Women and Children Desk, said police had no choice but release the three men because of legal technicalities.

Pagtalonan said the alleged rape took place at around 10 pm on Sunday, and the alleged victim had the incident blottered at 1:30 pm on Monday. She said the police could be charged with illegal detention if they held the suspects.

“Unsa-on man namo pag-detain sa mga suspect nga ulahi na man ang biktima mieport sa amo-a?” Pagtalonan asked.

She said the suspects were not arrested but were merely “invited” by Strada for questioning, and so investigators could ascertain their identities.

Pagtalonan said the alleged victim could press charges, and the police would arrest the suspects if the court issues a warrant.