QCPD eyes 10 persons of interest in alleged rape of UP Diliman student

Quezon City Police District director Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III holds a press conference at Camp Karingal, Quezon City on July 5, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Ten persons of interest in the alleged rape of a college student inside the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) campus are currently under surveillance, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Wednesday.

QCPD chief Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said these persons of interest were spotted in footage authorities scanned from CCTV installed in five locations near the area where the alleged rape occurred along Ylanan St.

“Around 10 people or persons of interest ang tinitingnan yung iba don ay sa loob ng UP yung iba ay galing sa labas ng UP,” Torre said in a press conference held at their headquarters in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.

(We are currently monitoring around 10 people or persons of interest inside and outside UP.)

“May mga taong nasa loob ng UP na wala na ngayon yun ang pinakahint natin don. Baka nagtatago na, yung iba naman siguro talagang lehitimo bakit sila nawala na pero lahat sila ay i-ch-check natin,” he added.

(There are people inside UP who are no longer there, which is a hint for us. They might be hiding, while others might have legitimate reasons for their disappearance, but regardless we will check them all.)

According to Torre, the alleged rape incident occurred last July 1 around 11 p.m., when the suspect approached the victim with a bladed weapon. The student reportedly cried for help, but guards could not hear her since an ongoing event was happening on campus.

After the incident, the victim sought the assistance of UP Diliman Police (UPDP) personnel, who brought her to the university’s infirmary and later to the Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame for physical examination.

Police also assisted her to the QCPD’s Anonas Police Station for proper filing and documentation of the case.

According to an earlier report, UPD said it has already started reviewing its security measures following the incident, and more campus police would be deployed to patrol areas it deemed dangerous.

Meanwhile, Torre said QCPD has been investigating the case in coordination with UPD Police, adding that workers at a construction site near Ylanan St. are also under investigation.

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