46-year-old arrested for “molesting” child

CEBU, Philippines - A 10-year-old girl’s confession to her neighbor led to the arrest of a 46-year-old man who allegedly molested the former repeatedly.

A concerned citizen and neighbor ask the girl of what was wrong after allegedly seeing her crying one morning. The child, in return, disclosed that she was molested by her aunt’s live-in partner. The neighbor immediately informed the victim’s aunt who then reported the incident to the police station.

Responding to the case, police arrested Melencio Acinto, of Barangay Mahayahay, Cordova, in a construction site where he works, in Lapu-Lapu City, past 12:00 noon Saturday.

“Ang iyaan ug ang bata mao may gakuyog pagdakop unya bisag unsaon siya man gyud ang gitudlo sa bata,” Sr. Insp. Alexander Nuñez, Cordova police chief, said.

Nuñez told The FREEMAN that the victim has been living with her aunt after the separation of her parents.

It was last Thursday evening when the victim, Acinto and her aunt were sleeping in the same room. It was at this point where Acinto allegedly groped her.

Nuñez said that Acinto reportedly threatened the victim and pursued his evil plan. “Gihudlat man kuno siya nga dunggabon siya unya kay bata lagi nahadlok tawn,” Nuñez said in a phone interview, adding that this was not the first time that Acinto molested the girl. However, the authorities are unable to give the exact date of the first incident pending further investigation.

The victim was taken to the pink room of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for medical examination. Nuñez added that the girl’s guardian is willing to file rape charges against Acinto who is now detained at the Cordova police stockade.

“We will just wait for the result of the medical so we could file the case at the fiscal’s office this week,” he said. — (FREEMAN)