Teen tagged in ‘gang rape’ falls

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – One of the three suspects allegedly involved in a gang rape was arrested at Barangay 5, Isabela, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

Police Captain Ar-jay Dangarang, town police chief, said the 19-year-old suspect was charged with five counts of rape.

He is the fourth most wanted person in Western Visayas, the eighth in the provincial level, and seventh in the municipal level.

The arrest warrant with no bail recommended was issued by Presiding Judge Cyclamen Jison Fernandez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in La Carlota City on January 23, 2024.

Dangarang said the suspect victimized a 16-year-old girl in March last year. He added that the incident happened in two separate areas of the town.

Six persons, who were mostly teenagers were allegedly involved in the incident. Three of them have been arrested, as of this writing.

Dangarang said the two other suspects wanted for the same offense were arrested in the town early this month.

Three other suspects, including two minors, are still at large, according to the police chief.

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, complimented the police officers involved in this operation.

He noted the PRO-6’s dedication to making sure that individuals accountable for crimes, particularly against children, are found and prosecuted.

“PRO-6 is unwavering in its stand against any form of abuse, particularly towards the youth,” Villaflor said in a statement, as he assured that all law offenders are apprehended and justice is served for victims of abuse.