Five construction workers charged for ‘raping’ PWD

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Charges for violation of Republic Act No. 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 was filed on Saturday, September 19, against the five construction workers for allegedly sexually molesting a 28-year old woman in La Paz, Iloilo City.

The five suspects were immediately arrested on Friday evening after the victim’s sibling informed a barangay tanod and the police about what happened.

Police Major Sonny Boy Garnace, Iloilo City Police Station 2 chief, said four of the suspects from Negros Oriental while the other one is from South Cotabato.

While the victim’s family claimed she’s mentally-challenged, there was no document that could support her particular mentally disability.

It can be noted that complainant allegedly that the suspects molested her at a construction site at Barangay Caingin, La Paz between 7 to 10 p.m. of Friday.

Reports said that the construction workers were outside the area when they saw the victim and that enticed her to get inside.

She immediately gave in and that’s where the rape incident happened.

But her family believed that it wasn’t the first item that the woman was sexually molested.

While the five suspects admitted to have sexually attacked her, they claimed that six other construction workers have also molested her prior to that.

It was gathered that the victim was as found positive during a pregnancy test.

“But we couldn’t tell for now if there are other men, aside from the construction workers, who raped her,” Garnace said.

As to the allegations that there are other suspects, the police claimed that it remains a hearsay, as of now.