BY MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY — A man accused of raping two orphaned sisters were arrested last Thursday, after five years of hiding at Sitio Candagsao, Barangay Talima, Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City.
According to lawyer King Anthony Perez, communications and advocacy officer of the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), the suspect, Rassen Tumulak, 42, was apprehended by operatives of Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 1.
His arrest was made by virtue of a standing warrant issued by Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 53 Judge Anna Marie Militante on January 26, 2015. No bail was recommended for the accused.
The accused was brought to Sta. Rosa Community Hospital for physical examination after his arrest and is now under police custody.
Perez said the CLB welcomed this development in prosecuting cases against persons who had violated the rights and dignity of child victims.
Among the victims of Tumulak were two orphaned sisters he allegedly raped by luring and bribing them. The incident reportedly happened at the resident of the accused.
The younger sister eventually became pregnant at the age of 14 as a result of the sexual assault, Perez said.
The victims were referred to the Department of Justice-Witness Protection Program (DOJ-WPP) that provided them the necessary security and assistance.
“We will continue to coordinate with the local government unit, social workers, and essential witnesses in seeking justice for the minor victims. We also call the local and national authorities as well as the general public to join us in our efforts to end all forms of violence and abuse against children amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” CLB statement read. (Minerva BC Newman)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 2,077 cases of child violence cases since the imposition of community quarantine measures in the Philippines in March and these cases include family members who are found to have violated child victims by trafficking and sexually abusing them online.
To address difficulties in reporting incidents of child abuse, CLB have made available legal consultations online through its “Children Legal Assistance Forms”.
