Police are preparing a case of statutory rape against a 40-year-old man accused of molesting a four-month old infant last Wednesday in Carcar City, 42 kilometers south of Cebu City.
The case will be filed today in Cebu City, according to PO3 Vivian Tamayo of the Carcar City police station women’s desk.
“Inaantay lang po namin ang report mula sa dalawang doktor na tumingin sa biktima sa Cebu City bago naming i-file ang case,” Tamayo said.
The suspect, identified as Jonathan Marfe, remained in police custody.
Marfe has denied the charges, but Tamayo said his demeanor during the investigation bolstered their suspicion of his involvement.
“Namumutla siya at nanginginig ng kinakausap namin,” Tamayo said.
Initially, Marfe told police he wore a red shirt and short pants during a drinking spree with five other men hours before the alleged rape.
His statement ran contrary to what his drinking buddies told police that he was wearing a green shirt and black jogging pants.
Confronted with the conflicting facts, Marfe dared police to come to his house to prove his innocence.
Tamayo said they found the shirt and jogging pants and traces of blood in the carton where Marfe sleeps.
Police immediately sent the new pieces of evidence for laboratory examination.
Tamayo said they also found traces of what they suspect as sperm in the crime scene and two cigarette butts which they also submitted for examination.
All these, Tamayo said, will help them pin down the suspect who originally hails from Bohol before settling down in Carcar City six years ago.
Tamayo said further investigation revealed that Tamayo was charged with the same offense in 2009 in Bohol, but the case was dropped following a settlement with the victim’s family.
Tamayo said the victim was the 10-year-old niece of Tamayo’s former wife.
Meanwhile, the victim has been discharged from the hospital and is now with her mother under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Cebu City.
The rape case has outraged the nation and drew a number of journalists in Carcar City.
“Maraming nagkalat po na media dito,” said Tamayo.
