Man faces raps for assaulting elderly lady

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Charges for rape and frustrated homicide were filed on Tuesday against a man for allegedly hurting and attempting to sexually molest his 64-year-old neighbor in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.

Police Major Antonio Benitez Jr., city police chief, said the two criminal complaints were filed before the City Prosecutor Office yesterday against a 28-year-old suspect, whom he refused to name.

Benitez said the victim, whose name was withheld, was alone at home when the suspect who was reportedly drunk forcibly entered her house around 4:35 a.m. and allegedly attempted to rape her.

Benitez said the victim fought back and the suspect allegedly hit her head with a stone.

Fortunately, their neighbors were alerted after hearing noise due to the victim’s struggle, prompting the suspect to escape, the police chief added.

The victim was taken to a hospital while the suspect, who was hiding in a sugarcane field, was later arrested by the responding village watchmen.

He (suspect) was placed under police custody after he was positively identified by the victim.

Benitez said the suspect refused to answer the allegations against him.

“Wala man siya ga admit or deny sang natabo. Wala lang gid siya gahambal,” he said.

Benitez said the suspect also has an arrest warrant for homicide.

He said the suspect just returned home after hiding for quite some time due to his pending warrant for a crime he previously committed in the city.