PNP nabs Pangasinan bakery owner for rape raps

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Police on Tuesday (June 13) arrested a bakery owner at Burgos town in Pangasinan province after one of his sales girls complained of rape.

The 15-year-old sales girl sought the assistance of the police to arrest Ricardo de Belen, 44, based on the complaint lodged before the police.

De Belen was detained at 11:10 p.m. following and now facing charges of rape.

Senior Insp. Eddie Suyat, Burgos police chief, the girl was recruited by de Belen to work in his bakery in April.

Suyat said based on the account of the young victim, de Belen reportedly asked her to accompany the suspect to visit a bakery worker confined in a hospital in Alaminos City at 5:30 p.m.

On their way home, Suyat said de Belen offered the girl P1,500 in exchange for having sex with him. When the girl refused, Suyat said de Belen drove her to a hotel in Alaminos and molested her there.

The girl has undergone a medical examination in a hospital in Dagupan City. JPV