Colorum van driver, pal nabbed for rape, robbery

MANILA, Philippines – A 36-year-old man was arrested on Monday for raping and robbing two female passengers inside a colorum passenger van while cruising through Caloocan City and Quezon City with an accomplice over the weekend.

Wilfredo Lorenzo was arrested by police on Monday while at the wheel of the subject Toyota Grandia with license plate ALA 6980 along E. Cruz street in Barangay Kaligayahan, Quezon City at around 5:45 p.m.

Lorenzo was caught with a sachet of shabu by operatives of the Special Investigation Task Group of the Quezon City police after an entrapment operation with the help of his operator.

Superintendent Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City police Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), said Lorenzo and his accomplice, identified as Buddy, had hogtied, robbed and raped the two victims, aged 22 and 27, inside the moving vehicle on Saturday night.

The two suspects drove around Caloocan City and took turns raping the victims for about four hours.

Before the incident, the victims reportedly boarded the van that had an SM Fairview sign, in front of the Centris Mall along EDSA at around 10 p.m. with another officemate.

The two suspects declared a heist when the victims were the only passengers left in the van after their male officemate alighted near Batasan Hills.

The suspects took P16,000 cash and five cell phones from the victims, who were repeatedly raped and then abandoned at a parking lot in Barangay Sauyo, Quezon City at around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

A driver of a passing taxicab saw the victims and brought them to the Quezon City police station in Novaliches.