Ex-US Navy man arrested on rape charge

A retired member of the US Navy was arrested in Quezon City on Friday for raping his niece.

Manuel Llara, a 56-year-old American citizen, was arrested in New Haven Village at Barangay Kaligayahan, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

He and the victim lived in the same house.

Investigation showed that around 11 a.m. Friday, the suspect and the victim went to a mall in Fairview to pick up some party balloons.

However, since the balloons were not yet available, Llara convinced his niece, a Grade 11 student, to go with him to an apartelle on Quirino Highway at Barangay Greater Lagro.

He reportedly threatened to kill her should she refuse.

After raping the victim, Llara instructed her to keep what happened between them a secret.

When they arrived home, however, the victim narrated her ordeal to her parents who promptly called the Fairview police station for help.

Police officers arrested Llara at 4:40 p.m. and filed a rape complaint against him. —Jhesset O. Enano