17-year-old Bulacan girl escapes rape by trading away her phone

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, BULACAN—A 17-year-old girl gave away her mobile cellphone and P300 in cash in order to prevent a 19-year-old tricycle driver from raping her on Tuesday night at Balagtas town in Bulacan province.

Reports said the victim boarded the tricycle driven by one Gilbert Devora at 7:30 p.m. and asked to be taken home. But Devora allegedly drove her to a dark section of the road in Pulong Gubat village and there began molesting the girl.

The girl begged Devora to stop and offered him her Samsung J7 telephone, worth P15,000, and the P300 cash. Devora reportedly agreed and let her go.

The girl alerted the police with the help of a village night watchman.

In a pursuit operation, Devora was immediately apprehended. He was also linked to another rape complaint of a girl in the same locality. /jpv