Security guard nabbed for raping 15 year old FB friend

By Justine Rich Talusan

AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group arrested a 29-year-old security guard in Baguio City accused of raping his teenager Facebook friend

Suspect Romulo Escobañes Jr. alias “Onyok” was arrested in Lake Drive, Baguio City shortly after noon last Wednesday.

Escobañes was nabbed on the strength of a warrant for statutory rape issued by a local regional trial court, with no bail recommended.

Members of the Cordillera Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit led by Lt. Col. Ma. Theresa Guinto-Pucay placed the suspect under arrest on orders of Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed of the Baguio City RTC.

An investigation showed that last March, the accused and his 15-year-old victim met in Facebook and became “virtual lovers” until the accused, who was using the messenger account “Romulo Laz,” convinced the teenager to meet and have sex with him.

Last July 10, the suspect again communicated with the victim on Facebook, where they talked about their sexual encounter the day before.

Unknown to the suspect, the teenager’s mother discovered their Facebook conversation and confronted the minor, who confessed she had sex with the suspect a number of times in Tam-awan area in Baguio City.

The girl’s mother immediately sought the help of the police that led to the arrest of the suspect.