After 4 years in hiding, rape suspect nabbed in Marikina

A man tagged by the Marikina police as the city’s fifth most wanted was arrested for allegedly raping his niece four years ago.

A tip from a concerned citizen led the police to Eduardo Gutierrez, 54, who had been charged with raping the victim when she was still 12 years old.

A team of intelligence officers found Gutierrez at Roque Alley Farmers, Barangay Tumana, Marikina on Tuesday afternoon, according to a report submitted to Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director.

An arrest warrant against the suspect was issued on Aug. 18 this year by Judge Chua Cheng of the Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 168, who will be hearing the rape case filed by the complainant, now aged 16.

According to Chief Insp. Glenn Aculana, head of the Marikina police intelligence unit, Gutierrez went into hiding in Bulacan province after his niece filed the complaint.

The alleged rape happened in April 2013 in the suspect’s house in Barangay J. de la Peña, also in Marikina, where the complainant was then staying. In her statement to the police, she said her uncle forced himself on her even after she kept resisting his advances and later offered her money to keep her quiet.

She finally had the courage to report the incident to the police after being convinced by her boyfriend’s family.

Gutierrez and his wife recently resurfaced in Barangay Tumana, where he started to make a living selling banana cue.

Aculana said Gutierrez admitted the crime following his arrest.