Van conductor, driver allegedly repeatedly rape passenger

A van driver and conductor were arrested in Surigao del Sur for allegedly taking turns raping a passenger.

According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Darlene Cay on Sunday, the 19-year-old victim boarded a van to Tandag, Surigao del Sur on her way to a family vacation and was left alone with the suspects after other passengers disembarked in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur.

Based on the police report, the van stopped at a convenience store at around 3 a.m. to collect more passengers.

“According to them, magaantay lang ng pasahero kaya nag-standby sa gilid ng terminal. Pagbalik ng driver at pahinante, may dala nang alak. Inubos and then suddenly tinali ang kanyang kamay. Tinali gamit ang t-shirt daw ng lalaki… Doon daw siya pinagsamantalahan ng dalawang beses,” said Claver Municipal Police Station chief Police Captain Mark Son Almeranez.

(According to them, they were waiting for passengers so they waited at the terminal. When the driver and conductor returned, they had liquor. They drank it all and then suddenly tied up her hands. They tied her up using one of their shirts. That’s when they raped her twice)

“Basta tinali nila ako. Nakahiga lang ako doon… Dalawa sila, kaya nababoy na talaga. Nakasigaw po ako, pero wala ring makarinig sa akin kasi nakasarado yung pinto,” added the victim.

(They just tied me up. I was just lying there… There were two of them, they treated me horribly. I was able to scream, but no one could hear me because the door was closed)

The suspects also allegedly drove around with the van and raped the victim several more times.

She was eventually dropped off at a passenger terminal in Claver, Surigao del Norte after almost two hours.

“Magsumbong daw ako sa mga ate ko, papatayin daw niya ako. Sa mga pulis daw, papatayin daw nila ako kapag nagsumbong ako,” the victim said.

(If I told my sisters, they said they would kill me. If I went to the cops, they said they would kill me.)

The victim was able to report to the barangay officials in Claver, who assisted her in reporting the assault to the police, who were able to locate the van at an auto shop.

“Iniwan po ito ng suspek doon para ipagawa ang brake. We found out na nag-check-in sa isang lodging house,” said Almeranez.

(The suspects left it there to have the brakes fixed. We found out that they checked in at a lodging house.)

The suspects were arrested and would face rape charges.

“Sa nabiktima po namin, humihingi kami talaga ng kapatawaran. Sorry po talaga sa nagawa namin. Nadala lang po ng kapusukan kaya nagawa. Hindi po talaga purpose namin na mangyari na ganon,” said suspect Don Clemente Paje.

(To our victim, we are asking for forgiveness. We are really sorry for what we have done. Something just came over us. We didn’t do it on purpose)

“Humihingi [kami] ng tawad, ma’am. Sana mapatawad kami,” said suspect Tonton Enopia.

(We ask for forgiveness, ma’am. I hope she forgives us)

Claver Municipal Police encouraged other possible victims of the suspects to come in and work with authorities. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News