Student allegedly raped by drinking buddies in Cagayan de Oro City

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Five young men in this city were facing a complaint for allegedly raping a college student, who reportedly joined the 21st birthday celebration of one of the suspects, police reported Wednesday.

Major Even Viñas, the city police spokesperson, said the alleged gang-rape of a tourism management student reportedly happened inside the celebrator’s boarding house where she had been invited to join the drinking session.

Police said the 23-year-old victim supposedly arrived at the celebrator’s boarding house at 5 p.m. Tuesday,  where they had a drink of “Choco Bam,” a mixture of rum, powdered chocolate, iced tea, and coffee.

Police also said that in the middle of the drinking session, the victim allegedly became drunk and took a nap on the celebrator’s bed before going home. But upon waking up, she realized that two of the suspects allegedly took turns in violating her, while another one was taking a video of what was going on and the other two acted as lookouts.

The victim and suspects were going to the same school, which is just a stone’s throw away from the birthday celebrator’s boarding house, according to police.

Police said three of the suspects had been arrested, while one remained at-large. Another suspect, who is a minor, was likewise held by the arresting team.

Viñas identified the suspects as  Jemboy Toñacao, 21; Clint Caballero, 18; Jason Veter, of legal age; Junel Pabingwit, 24; and a 17-year-old.

In a radio interview, the alleged video taker claimed he was with the group but had to rush back to school to attend his classes.

He also claimed that when he returned later on to the boarding house, he already saw the other suspects molesting the woman. He further said he was just asked to take the video footage.

Viñas said most of the suspects were classmates of the victim.

“We believe it happened due to the effects of the alcoholic drink that they consumed,” he said.

Viñas said it was past 10 p.m. when the victim woke up and started screaming that she realized what happened.

He said responding officers from the Macabalan police then went to the suspects’ respective houses and took them in.