13-year-old girl gang-raped in Cagayan

In yet another case of gang-rape, following similar and publicized incidents in Quezon City, Negros, and Maguindanao, police reported that a 13-year-old girl was raped by at least nine youths in Cagayan. The victim, a second-year high school student, claimed that she was raped twice, on September 22 and 25, at an irrigation canal in Barangay Sica, Gonzaga, Cagayan. The principal suspect in the case is her boyfriend, 18-year old Jeric Cadayuna, according to Police Senior Inspector Dominador Caday. Seven other suspects were identified as minors and students of Rebecca National High School, while the eighth suspect is an out-of-school youth. The suspects are currently under the custody of the town social welfare and development office, and charges are being prepared against them, Caday said. In the first instance, the victim alleged that her boyfriend, Cadayuna, invited her for a walk along the canal, whereupon two persons raped her while six others looked on and cheered. She feared how her grandmother would react, the girl said, so she did not report the incident. In a second instance, however, Cadayuna invited her to a picnic at the irrigation canal’s mini-dam, in the guise of making peace with her, the victim said. Cadayuna and his eight friends then allegedly raped her one after another. This time, fearing pregnancy, the girl and her grandmother reported the gang rapes to the police on October 4. Police investigation showed that as early as September 28, the victim had hinted to one of her teachers about the alleged rape, but the teacher did not report the incident, Caday said. The police officer added that the teacher could also be liable for her failure to immediately inform the police about the alleged gang rapes.—Joel Nueva/LRS/JV, GMANews.TV