Suspects in gang rape of nurse in Maguindanao nabbed

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The police have arrested on Tuesday six of the 10 suspects who abducted and raped a 21-year old government nurse in South Upi town in Maguindanao province. South Upi town councilor Warlito Bansigan identified the suspects, all residents of South Upi and are now under the custody of the local police, as:

Glenn Saldoa, son of a retired employee of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Maguindanao;

Eugene Biscara, son of a retired school teacher;

Ruscom Sangclap;

Michael Candelario, and

Jeffrey Fernandez. The authorities also expressed hope that the rape victim, Florence (not her real name), would soon recover so that she could name the others involved in the crime. Meanwhile, Cotabato auxiliary Bishop Colin Bagaforo has appealed to families of gang-rape suspects to voluntarily surrender their sons ‘in the name of justice.’ “Sa pangalan ng Diyos at ng Simbahan… Ito ay isang panawagan sa mga opisyal ng gubyerno na tulungan si Florence na maigawad sa kanya ang hustisya (In the name of God and this Church… this is a call to government officials and authorities to help Florence obtain the justice due her)," Bagaforo said. The friends and coworkers of the victim have also urged the media, police officers, and other individuals to cease from casting negative comments on the character of Florence. “Contrary to reports, Florence is not alcoholic. She does not smoke. We’ve been friends for so long and I’ve not seen her drink or smoke, especially in public places," said a coworker who requested anonymity. Some reports claimed that before the incident, Florence was seen with the suspects inside a videoke bar in Barangay Timanan, just few meters away from a police outpost. Florence was found naked and unconscious on Sunday morning by some of the bystanders in a corn field, also in Barangay Timanan. “I resent these people from casting aspersions on my friend. It’s rude… it’s not fair. We cry for justice here," said another friend. On Tuesday, hundreds of government health workers, led by Maguindanao’s provincial health officer, Dr. Tahir Sulaik, staged an indignation rally in Cotabato City where they condemned the gang rape and urged authorities to investigate the case. Sulaik said they do not want a whitewash of the case because some of the suspects are allegedly scions of rich and influential families in Maguindanao. –VVP, GMANews.TV