Driver jailed for ‘molesting’ PLM coed in van

THE DRIVER of a passenger van was arrested in Manila on Monday afternoon after he allegedly molested a 17-year-old sophomore student of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) inside his vehicle.

Members of the Manila Police District’s (MPD) Women and Children Protection Section took into custody Loreto Sapla, a 31-year-old driver plying the Lawton-Mall of Asia route, in an entrapment operation after the alleged victim, “Jenny,” filed a complaint.

Sapla underwent inquest proceedings on Tuesday morning in the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. He remains detained at the MPD headquarters.

According to Jenny’s affidavit, she boarded Sapla’s van around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. While seated beside him, Jenny said Sapla introduced himself as a nurse and graduate of Adamson University and began asking her about herself.

At Lawton, all the van’s passengers got off but Sapla stopped her as he volunteered to drop her off at PLM, Jenny added.

As he was driving to her school using a longer route that was unfamiliar to her, Jenny said Sapla activated the child-safety lock in his vehicle. After asking her if she was aware of breast cancer, he parked the van near a river and mashed her breast while assuring her that he was checking for signs of breast cancer.

Jenny told case investigator PO3 Thelma Samudio that the suspect continued driving and asked for her cell-phone number when he dropped her off at PLM.

Out of fear, Jenny said she gave her number to Sapla who volunteered to pick her up from school that afternoon.

When she refused, he repeatedly called and texted her over the weekend, saying he would pick her up on Monday. This prompted her and her mother to go to the police and file a complaint against Sapla for acts of lasciviousness and violation of the child abuse law.

The police later set a trap on Monday afternoon, arresting the suspect when he showed up in front of PLM to pick up Jenny.