Contributed photo by Atty. Ariel Inton
The family of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly raped several times by her volleyball coach in Marikina and Antipolo cities last year has offered a P100,000 reward money to anyone who could give information that may lead to the suspect’s arrest.
The mother of the victim told the Inquirer their family was offering the reward money on Tuesday for the arrest of Dennis Laping, 44, a former coach at the Our Lady of Succor Perpetual College (OLOSPC) in Marikina City and a resident of Tandang Sora Avenue, Old Balara.
An arrest warrant was issued against Laping by the Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 192 for violation of Republic Act No. 7610 (qualified seduction) and acts of lasciviousness in April last year.
The victim’s lawyer Ariel Inton said Laping was released on bail last year and has since stopped attending the hearing.
Inton said the minor later told her mother Laping also took advantage of her sexually in a motel in Antipolo at least seven times. Laping even asked the victim to take pills to avoid pregnancy, Inton said. This prompted the family to file other cases in Marikina and Antipolo.
Laping has an arrest warrant in Marikina RTC Branch 192 for five counts of statutory rape and two counts of sexual abuse in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in further relation to section 5a of RA 8369 (An Act Establishing Family Courts) issued last Aug 14, 2017 for his sexual advances on the minor from February to April last year, said Inton.
Another warrant of arrest was issued against him by the Antipolo City Regional Trial Court Branch 99 by Presiding Judge Purita Deynata, this time, for three counts of rape last Aug 31, 2017.
Based on a previous police report submitted to the Eastern Police District, Laping was first arrested in an operation set by the Marikina City Police after he invited the student to a volleyball practice in Barangay Bulelak in April last year.
The suspect brought the victim to a house on Atis Street where the suspect allegedly tried to rape the victim and held her for hours.
The mother said the reward, gathered through the help of Inton’s group, is their gift to Laping who is also celebrating his 44th birthday on Tuesday.
“This is our gift to him: His immediate arrest. The police are helping us. Pero mailap ang suspect (But the suspect is slippery). He was sighted at his home in Quezon City. We are giving out the reward money for the suspect’s speedy arrest,” she said.
“It is time that we offer reward money. The suspect has been hiding for so long. This hurts the family too much already,” Inton said.
The mother declined to be identified based on her lawyers’ advice.
“My daughter was traumatized before but she is okay now,” she said.
Those who have substantial information may call the family at 09454636430.
Inton said they were also looking at the possibility of filing damages against the school for its negligence in securing the student as some of the instances of rape allegedly took place during volleyball practice and, sometimes, inside the suspect’s car parked near the school.
“Nakakalabas ang bata dahil kasama ang coach at babalik ulit sa school (The child is able to go out of the school and back because of the coach),” Inton said.