Construction worker nabbed for alleged rape

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A 61-year-old construction worker was arrested for allegedly molesting an 8-year old girl.

The incident happened more than a year ago, but it was only recently that the warrant of arrest against Simon Frias, a resident of Barangay Sto. Rosario-Duran, City Proper, Iloilo City, was issued.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, Iloilo City Police Station 1 commander, said they coordinated with the suspect’s family until the latter agreed to help turn him in afternoon of Aug 3, 2022 at Barangay San Agustin, City Proper.

Members of ICPS1 and the Iloilo City Police Office-City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU) arrested Frias by virtue of an arrest warrant for violation of Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997).

Judge Regina Centenera Galang-Guarin of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Iloilo City issued the warrant of arrest on July 28, 2022

No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Frias is City Proper’s most wanted person. He was charged for sexually molesting the 8-year-old daughter of a fellow construction worker on May 12 and 17, 2021.

According to Staff Sergeant Jane Gabaleo, investigator on case, the incident happened after the suspect spotted the victim was alone inside their house.

Her father was still at work while her mother and other siblings were staying in a nearby village.

Frias was allegedly drunk when he first allegedly molested the girl.

It happened again after he saw the girl alone a second time.

As he left her, Frias bumped into the girl’s father.

The father got puzzled why the suspect came from their home.

When he asked her daughter, the latter told him what the suspect did to her.

After the case was filed, the suspect went into hiding in several areas in Iloilo province until his arrest.

Frias is now detained for proper disposition of his case.