Man arrested for 16 counts of rape

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A 27-year-old man was arrested morning of April 19, 2021 for a string of rape charges in Igbaras, Iloilo.

The suspect, JP Palencia, a resident of Barangay 2 Poblacion, Igbaras, was collared nearby Barangay 3.

Members of Igbaras Police Station nabbed the suspect by virtue of an arrest warrant for Criminal Case Numbers 3555 to 3570 for violation of the Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code.

Judge Nenita Jesusa Arboleda Bacaling of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 72, Guimbal, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on April 5, 2021.

No bail was set for his temporary liberty.

Lieutenant Marvin Fuentes, Igbaras deputy police chief, said the suspect was accused of raping the complainant who was still a minor in 2017.

Sources said Palencia and the complainant had known each other when the alleged rape happened. But the girl’s mother pursued the case against the suspect.

The girl later got pregnant. Until now, both suspect and victim are living together.

Both parties have made attempts to dismiss the case against Palencia.

Presently, the suspect is detained at the lock-up cell of Igbaras Police Station for proper disposition of his case.