Girl, 15, accuses caretaker of rape

CEBU, Philippines - A 15-year-old girl claimed she was allegedly molested twice by the caretaker of the apartment where she is working in Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.

Police Officer 3 Mary Joylyn Mahilum, chief of the Women's and Children's Protection Desk of Centro Police Station, said the girl, who is a native of Toledo City, was allegedly first molested by Zaldy Deñega, 39, last August 14.

The act was allegedly repeated last Tuesday inside the victim's room at the apartment.

"Naligo ni ang bata. Unya kaning suspek, nakasulod ra man ni sa kuwarto kay caretaker man, sinaligan," Mahilum said, adding that the victim lets Deñega in and out of her room because of  her trust towards the suspect.

The victim did not report the incident to the police as she was allegedly threatened by Deñega. But after the second incident, the girl called her older brother to ask for help.

Mahilum said the girl did not expressly state that she was raped when she called her brother through the phone.

"Wala ni midiretso og tug-an ang bata nga gihilabtan siya. Niana ni siya sa iyang kuya nga 'Kuya, tabangi ra gud ko sa akong problema. Dako kaayo akong problema,'" Mahilom said, again quoting the victim.

The victim's brother, who is living in Consolacion, then called their mother in Toledo City and informed her that the child had a problem. The mother immediately came over to Mandaue and asked for the help of the child's sister, who is also living in Consolacion, to look for the apartment.

After locating the apartment, the child told her mother and sister about her predicament. The family immediately reported the incident at the WCPD in Centro Police Station.

Personnel of the police station conducted a hot pursuit operation to arrest the suspect. According to Mahilum, the suspect did not resist his arrest.

"Kahibalo ra siya dayon nganong giadto siya sa mga police. Nitug-an ra dayon siya (sa iyang sala)," Mahilum said.

Deñega, who is detained at Centro Police Station, denied sexually molesting the victim, claiming that the girl gave her consent to the act.

"Nagdahom ko nga okay ra siya ato. Nagkasabot man mi," he said.

He also denied allegations that he threatened to kill the victim if she would report him to authorities.

Deñega said he only "touched" the girl once after learning that the latter was allegedly pregnant to another man from Borbon town. He claimed the girl called him and asked him how she can abort the baby.

A father of five, he insisted that the girl is just trying to frame him up so he can take responsibility over the baby.

Mahilum, however, said Deñega's claims were only his alibis.

The police are expected to file on Monday two counts of rape in relation to R.A. 7610 against Deñega. — Jave A. Matugas (FREEMAN)