MANILA, Philippines ? Mandaluyong police has arrested a 42-year-old teacher on charges that he repeatedly raped a Grade 5 pupil in the school?s comfort rooms since June last year.
The teacher, Orville Perciano, allegedly threatened the 12-year-old girl with failing grades if she refused his advances but also tried to bribe her with money, cell phone and an iPod to keep her silent.
SPO2 Pablo Roxas said the medico legal confirmed that the girl?s hymen had deep healed lacerations, which served as ?prima facie? evidence against the suspect. A rape case had been filed with the city prosecutor?s office on Tuesday, a day after Perciano?s arrest.
The case apparently shocked Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin ?Benhur? Abalos Jr. that his office provided legal assistance to the girl?s family and ordered her immediate transfer to another school within the city.
The alleged victim?s sister lodged a complaint on Jan. 3 at the city police?s Women and Children Protection Desk when she learned about the incidents of rape through the text messages sent by the teacher to the girl?s cell phone.
In a statement, the girl said she was abused almost every day and recalled six dates when the alleged rapes occurred inside the school?s comfort rooms.
The girl said that when she was in Grade 4, the teacher, who was then her class adviser, told her, ?Pwede ba kitang maging girlfriend? Kasi matagal na kitang gusto kaya nga kinuha kita sa teacher mo nung Grade 3 (Can you be my girlfriend? I?ve liked you for so long that?s why I asked your Grade 3 teacher to put you under my class).?
He was also quoted as saying, ?Ibabagsak kita pag hindi ka sumunod sa gusto ko (I will fail you if you don?t do what I want).?
The girl claimed she was raped in the mornings of June 16, June 17, Nov. 25, and Dec. 18 and in the afternoon of Dec. 28. The last incident happened on Jan. 5 when the teacher even allegedly said ?Isa pa mamaya huh (Let?s do it again later).?
The teacher, who was detained at the Mandaluyong City police station, denied the allegations and refused to talk further.
