Senior citizen stabbed after ‘drunk’ man’s rape attempt

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are looking for a 24-year-old man who allegedly hit and stabbed a senior citizen in an attempt to rape her inside her house in Barangay Purisima, Manapla, Negros Occidental last Saturday.

Police withheld the name of the 63-year-old victim, who is a widow.

Police Major Joevito Bose, town police chief, said the victim was sleeping alone in her house when she was awaken after she felt that someone was grabbing her two hands.

When she saw the suspect identified as Joselito Luciendo, the victim tried to fight back but the suspect stabbed her, hitting her chest, Bose said.

She also tried to reach a shovel but the suspect was able to snatch it from her and hit her with it, causing injuries on her head.

After the commotion, the suspect fell asleep beside her due to drunkenness. This prompted the victim to run to her sister’s house to seek help early the following day.

When the barangay watchmen arrived, the suspect had already left the victim’s house.

Bose said the motive of the suspect was probably to allegedly rape the victim but it was not consummated. The victim is recuperating at a hospital.

“We don’t know if he (suspect) was under the influence of illegal drugs, though hambal sang taga dira, mahilig daw ang suspect mag inom,” Bose said.

Police are also checking how the suspect ended up at the victim’s house.

Bose said a shovel was recovered from the scene but the bladed weapon was missing.