Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Colonel Albert Lupaz affirmed the reported rape of a 15-year old girl from Calinan during a press conference at the City Mayor’s Hall of DCPO on Friday.
The minor, whose identity is being withheld, was reportedly raped inside an inn in Calinan, Davao City on October 31, 2023.
Lupaz stressed that although the investigation of the police has established that there is a violation of RA 8353 or the “The Anti-Rape Law of 1997,” the discretion is still up to the City Prosecutor’s Office whether a rape case would be filed or not.
“Our city prosecutors sila ang mag-determine kung ipa-pa-file talaga yung kaso. Sa level sa police ito na muna but definitely base sa statement ng victim ipa file talaga ang case. It would be the discretion of the City Prosecutor’s Office whether or not may rape talaga o wala. Nasa kanila yun, pero sa statement na na gather ng mga police ngayon na establish na namin na mayroong rape talaga,” said Lupaz.
Lupaz said that based on the statement of the victim to the Calinan Police Station, she was forced by the suspect to take off her clothes while inside the inn.
“Gi-force siya nga hubuon ang iyahang damit. Tungod kay dili niya ma-overcome ang suspect, dili gyud gusto sa victim pero gipugos gyud siya. Pero tungod kay kusgan ang suspect, wala na siya nahimo. Nakuha gyud siya,” he said.
Lupaz shared that the victim and the 19-year-old suspect are friends on Facebook.
According to the statement of the victim, the suspect went to their house in Purok Durian, Tawantawan in Calinan, and brought her to Calinan. The suspect then took her to an inn and allegedly raped her.
“This is not the first time na nag-meet sila. Sumama siya seguro dahil napalagay na ang loob niya. Wala silang relasyon, magkaibigan lang sila sa social media. Kasi yung inn naman parang bahay lang at hindi talaga tulad ng motel. Seguro nagkumpyansa siya. Ug gipugos na siya didto sa inn,” Lupaz said.
Lupaz explained that in the initial report, the case is not necessarily established immediately, but with the spot report and because the investigation is ongoing, they were able to establish that the victim was indeed raped.
The suspect is currently under the custody of Calinan Police Station after operatives arrested him in an entrapment operation.
