48-yr.-old farmer arrested for molesting girl in Penablaňca, Cagayan

Cagayan, Philippines – It was supposed to be a fine Monday morning for a girl helping her family sell wet goods at their ‘talipapa’ in Peñablanca when a man approached and molested her.

The incident happened on April 21 in Barangay Callao where the victim - hidden under the name Ali, a student - was at their makeshift wet market stall around 7:00 a.m. At the time, she noticed the 48-year-old suspect hidden under the name Ric who kept on looking at her.

Peñablanca police investigation revealed that Ric waited until she was alone with the victim before approaching her and taking her hands. While he let go of her hands when somebody arrived, Ric took things further when he was alone again with Ali around 12:20 p.m.

At said hour, the suspect did not settle for just holding Ali’s hands as he allegedly hugged the victim tightly, repeatedly kissed her cheeks, and touched her chest. The girl managed to extract herself from the 48-year-old and ran to her grandmother for help.

Ric escaped on his motorcycle, but the victim reported the incident to the Peñablanca police, who arrested the suspect on Monday night.

The 48-year-old has been charged with Acts of Lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act No. 7610 or the ‘Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act’.