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[av_heading heading=’Pa, son ‘rape’ special needs girl ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – Accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old special needs girl, a man and his son were arrested in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
Police caught the 30-year-old Harold John Gomez in his house in Barangay Zone 6, Santa Barbara at around 7:55 p.m. on Friday.
His father, 55-year-old Benjur Gomez, was collared an hour later in Barangay Lanag, also in Santa Barbara.
Harold John was charged with rape while Benjur was slapped with a sexual abuse case (violation of Section 5.b. of the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
Officers have been searching for them since last month after the victim’s parents filed the charges, said Senior Inspector Rey Pabalan, Santa Barbara police chief.
“The incident happened this year in Barangay Lanag,” Pabalan said.
According to Pabalan, the Gomez father and son were accused of “taking advantage of the special needs victim.”
“They threatened to hurt the victim should she disclose to her family what happened. But this did not stop the child from telling her mother,” said Pabalan.
Judge Juana Judita Panigbatan Nafarrete of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 issued the warrants of arrest against the suspects.
Nafarrete set the bail bond for the elder Gomez at P200,000. She recommended no bail for the younger suspect.
The Gomez father and son – both ranked No. 10 on the watch list of wanted persons in Santa Barbara, said Pabalan – were detained in the custodial facility of the municipal police station./PN
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