Man arrested, detained after alleged rape of cousin, 10

ILIGAN CITY— Police arrested on Friday (July 19) a 24-year- old man hours after he allegedly raped his 10-year-old cousin at a secluded area in a village here.

Capt. Niel Mark Quipanes, chief of the Iligan City Police Station 3, said the suspect was arrested at his house after neighbors reported the rape to police.

Quipanes said initial investigation showed the victim was on her way home around noon on Friday when the suspect dragged her to a grassy area in the village.

The child fainted after she was punched by her cousin. When she regained consciousness, she realized she had been raped and sought neighbors’ help.

“She was very weak when her neighbors brought her to the hospital,” Quipanes said.

The suspect was detained while awaiting formal charges.

Quipanes said the suspect denied raping his cousin but the child positively identified him as her attacker. The suspect is known not only to the victim but also in the neighborhood./tsb