On Wednesday, a man was arrested for several years in Barangay Supang in Caramoran, Catanduanes, for allegedly raping his grandchildren.
According to the arrest warrant, the 63-year-old suspect was arrested on over 1,500 counts of rape of his own grandkids.
The suspect’s victims, according to police, were his minor grandchildren, ages 8 and 9, whom he exploited from June 2016 to November 2021.
“Bale apo po niya magpinsan po, sa ngayon po under custody na po sila ng DSWD regional office, nag-uundergo na po sila ng counseling,” ayon kay Police Lt. Rommel Mabelin Aringo ng Caramoran police.
(The victims were his grandchildren, who were cousins. They are now under the custody of the DSWD regional office. They are going through counseling.)
The victims allegedly informed their family about their grandfather’s rape, and as a result, the suspect was apprehended.
Authorities advise parents to keep a close eye on their children to avoid abuse.
“Sana po mabantayan po ng maayos ang kanilang mga anak. Sana yung nag-aalaga na lalaki o mga kapatid, dapat may limitasyon po, dapat see to it ng mga magulang na may limitasyon po, kung hanggang saan lang po sila, para hindi humantong sa ganitong pang-aabuso,” said Aringo.
63-year-old grandpa arrested for 1,500 counts of rape in Catanduanes
(I hope they can take good care of their children. Hopefully, the caring man or siblings should have a limit. Parents should see to it that there is a limit, as far as they can go, so as not to lead to this kind of abuse.)
No bail has been recommended for the suspect who is now detained at the Caramoran Municipal Police Station.
The Philippine National Police also consider the suspect in Bicol as the region’s most wanted.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the bill raising the age of sexual consent in the Philippines to 16 from the previous 12.
Previously, the minimum age of sexual consent in the Philippines was 12 years old. Sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 12 is defined as rape under Chapter 3, Article 266 of the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
Under the new law, any adult who would engage in sexual activity with a child below 16 years old would be guilty of rape. This is regardless of whether the minor gave his or her consent.
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