| Digos cops nab Leyte rape suspect |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre and Nilo Mercado | |
| Sunday, 29 June 2008 | |
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A man wanted for raping a 15-year old girl in St. Bernard, Barangay Catmon in Southern Leyte fell into the hands of Digos police during a raid that took place in Barangay Igpit on Thursday afternoon.
Chief Inspector Anthony Padua, Digos City PNP director identified the suspect as Cenon Gorme Esma, married and currently driving a motorcycle-for-hire (Habal-Habal) in the city.
Padua said Esma has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Hermes Montero of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 26 in San Juan, Southern Leyte based on Criminal Case Number 4624 for rape.
The court barred Esma from posting a bail bond as the crime violated R.A. 7610 – a law that protects the rights of children.
Esma, in a media interview vehemently denied raping the girl. “Dili ako ang naka buntis sa iya (I have nothing to do with his pregnancy)”, Esma said in the vernacular.
The suspect’s house is situated just across the road in Leyte, it was learned.
Esma told media the girl was frequently going out at night with her friends when he was still in Leyte. “I don’t know why she charged me of raping her,” Esma said.
Esma was born in Barangay Igpit, but his parents moved to Leyte when he was still young. He went back to Digos after the rape case was filed against him.
Padua has informed the Leyte police to get the suspect from their custody to face the charges filed against him in their court of justice. |