Officer, 3 others charged for rape aboard ship in Visayas

A ship officer and three companions were charged this week for allegedly sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman aboard a ship over the weekend. The four were charged before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office Monday for the incident aboard the M/V Calbayog, radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate reported on Tuesday. Those charged for the alleged assault were ship officer Timoteo Sampayan, 32; Aldrin Albarando; Alvin Nalda; and Layman Degañon. Aside from the charges, the four were barred from boarding the M/V Calbayog and its sister ships, the report said. The initial investigation showed that the four reportedly invited the victim to Sampayan's cabin, where a brief drinking session and the alleged assault took place. When the ship docked in Cebu City, the woman reported the incident to authorities who eventually arrested the four. – VVP, GMA News