Taxi driver nabbed for rape

A 52-YEAR-OLD taxi driver was arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in barangay Basal, Mandaue City.

The rape reportedly happened in 2007.

Roberto Ponce denied the accusations against him. He said it was the girl’s parents who fabricated the accusations against him.

Ponce said the girl is a member of the Crips gang. He said he and the girl were friends and would sometimes eat together since they were neighbors.

Ponce was arrested in a relative’s house in barangay Bahak, Liloan town.

A warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 in October 2010 was used in the arrest.

Ponce said he knew about the complaint but he didn’t know that a warrant was issued against him./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA