2 men held for raping girls

MANILA, Philippines — Two men were arrested in separate operations for allegedly raping girls under 10 years old.

In Taguig, a man identified only as Eugene, 38, was arrested in Barangay Western Bicutan for reportedly raping an eight-year-old girl, police said yesterday.

Executive M/Sgt. Glenda Aquino, who heads the Taguig police’s women and children protection desk, said the girl accused the partner of her father’s stepmother of raping her while he was staying at their home.

In Quezon City, a 32-year-old garbage collector was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl.

The suspect, a resident of Barangay Payatas, was apprehended by policemen based on the complaint of the girl’s grandmother.

Police said the grandmother told the girl to buy cheesecake at a nearby store on Thursday morning.

When the girl failed to return after several minutes, the grandmother looked for the child, who returned after nearly an hour.

The girl identified the suspect, their neighbor, as the one who raped her in his house.