ILOILO City – Parents should always monitor the activities of their children, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The ICPO issued the statement following a 15-year-old girl’s complaint she was raped by male friends following a birthday party.
“We remind fathers and mothers of their parental responsibility so we can avoid incidents such as this,” said Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson.
The alleged gang rape happened past midnight on Thursday in the City Proper. There were five suspects.
“Parents should make sure their children are home at night,” said Sangrines.
It was the girl’s mother who discovered the rape, said Sangrines. She saw graphic images of what happened to her daughter on social media and confronted the teenager.
The girl confessed, and the mother sought help from Police Station 1, said Sangrines.
Four of the five suspects have been apprehended – two were 17 years old and the other two were 18 years old, according to Senior Police Officer 3 Debbie Yocogco, chief investigator of Police Station 1’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk.
“The girl attended a birthday party but the rape happened in the house next to where the party was held,” said Yocogco.
The 17-year-old suspects were forwarded to the Balay Dalayunan Home for Boys in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz district while the 18-year-olds were kept at the Police Station 1 lockup cell.
“The girl became drunk at the birthday party,” said Yocogco.
The suspects were yesterday charged with rape, violation of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and violation of Republic Act 9995 (Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009).
“We urge parents to always check their children, know their friends and their whereabouts,” said Yocogco.
Parents should also remind their children about the consequences of drinking liquor, she added.
“Kun babaye ka, wala ka pwersa. Biskan pwersado ka nga babaye pero kun damo sila, wala gid padaog. Dapat maghalong gid,” said Yocogco./PN
