ILOILO City – The No. 7 wanted person in the province of Iloilo accused of raping his minor stepdaughter was arrested on Tuesday in Barangay Pandac, Pavia, Iloilo.
The 37-year-old “Michael” of Oton town was served with an arrest warrant for the crime of rape in relation to Republic Act 7610 and five counts of sexual assault. He did not resist arrest.
Judge Elijo Sharon Ronzales-Herrera of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 27, who issued the suspect’s warrant, did not approve a bail bond for the rape charge, while a bail bond of P1 million for the five counts of sexual assault was approved.
According to Police Captain Larry John Vidal, chief of Oton Police Station, the victim was 13 years old. The crime transpired last year in Oton town.
“Minor ang victim kag iya man lang stepdaughter, kag natabo ang kaso kung duha lang sila,” Vidal said.
On the other hand, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor emphasized the commitment of PRO-6 to ensuring that those responsible for any form of abuse, especially towards children, will be pursued and brought to justice.
“We will ensure that all law offenders are apprehended and justice is served for victims of abuse,” Villaflor said./PN
