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The Manila Police District (MPD) is conducting manhunt operations on
five to six more Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
students who allegedly raped a 16-year-old student. Police earlier
nabbed three suspects, including a girl in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The suspects, who are currently under the
custody of the Manila Youth Rehabilitation Center, were 15 to 16
years old. All are classmates of “Anne,” who is presently
seeking medical attention at the Philippine General Hospital.
According to PO3 Rowena Albano of the MPD-Women’s
and Children Protection Desk, the rape incident took place at around
6:30 p.m. inside a vacant classroom inside the PUP compound in Sta.
Mesa, Manila.
Prior to the incident, the students were
planning an acquaintance party that had a drinking session.
At the party, the suspects put sleeping pills on
the victim’s drink. When the victim was asleep, more or less than
10 students molested her.
Because of the trauma, the victim did not tell
her parents of her ordeal right away. On Wednesday, the victim was
confronted and confessed what had happened to her. Parents then
reported the incident to the police, and the three students were
arrested inside the PUP campus immediately.
University president Dr. Dante Guevarra said
that they are ready to face any probe that may be conducted by the
police or the Commission on Higher Education on the matter.
Guevarra said that based on initial police
reports, the victim was drugged outside of the PUP campus. After
that, she was brought to a secluded classroom located at the 4th
floor of the university.
He said that classrooms at PUP (when the lights
are out) are usually dark, especially if the windows are not opened.
Guevarra said that they only have 45 security
guards to keep close watch over the close to 500 classrooms of the
15 school buildings inside the university’s 10-hectare compound.
He said that the university has initiated its
own investigation into the matter, and determining who were the
security guards at the time of the alleged gang rape.
Guevarra debunked earlier television reports
that the gang rape lasted three days and that 20 students were
involved. He said the incident lasted only one day and that only
three students were involved.
Commission on Higher Education Deputy Executive
Director Julito Victriolo said that the incident serves as a
“wake-up” call for all state colleges and universities to have a
second look at their security operations.
Vitriolo said PUP officials can only be held
liable if it is proven that they were remiss in their duty to serve
as a second father to their students.
-- Ruben Manahan 4th and James Konstantin Galvez
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