Laborer arrested for allegedly raping stepdaughter

ILIGAN CITY – Authorities arrested on Friday, March 1, a 49-year old laborer who had been accused of raping the 14-year-old daughter of his live-in partner.

The suspect was in his house in Barangay Suarez here when a “tracker team” arrived to serve the warrant of arrest against the suspect, who allegedly raped his stepdaughter on April 4 last year.

The arresting team was composed members of the Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group (CIDG), the Highway Patrol Team (HPT), and Iligan City Police Station (ICPS 2).

Capt. Roosevelt Cabarteja, deputy chief of police of ICPS 2, said the suspect denied the allegation even if the case was filed on Dec. 19 and approved by the court in Jan. 14, this year.

According to a police report, it was past 5 p.m. on April 4 when the teenager was left alone at their house when the suspect suddenly arrived and forcibly brought her to a grassy area.

Her stepfather allegedly threatened to kill if she would shout. He also threatened to kill the teenager’s mother if she would tell her what he did.

“It took almost a year for the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspect. Good thing, he did not escape to another place far from Iligan,” Cabarteja said. /atm