The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has successfully apprehended the primary suspect in the alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl in Sityo Kalubihan, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City. The suspect, identified as Fernando Prajes, alias Andot, a 37-year-old habal-habal driver and neighbor of the victim, was captured at Pier 4, North Harbor, Zaragoza Terminal in Manila after disembarking from a ship originating from Bacolod City.
Intensive Manhunt Leads to Arrest
According to Police Colonel George Ylanan, chief of the CCPO, the investigation began when the victim's parents filed a complaint against their neighbor. Authorities immediately launched a manhunt, but Prajes had already fled the area. Initial information suggested he had returned to his parents' home in Alegria, Cebu, but police missed him as he escaped to Negros Occidental and boarded a ship in Bacolod City.
Swift Police Action and Coordination
Under Colonel Ylanan's command, the CCPO decided to pursue the suspect by air. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival was notified and personally covered the airfare for three police officers, led by Police Captain Venstine Bontilao of the Guadalupe Police Station. This rapid response was crucial in preventing the suspect from evading capture in Luzon.
Captain Bontilao collaborated with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region Field Unit, Sea Marshals from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Ports Authority, and the Manila Police District to secure the arrest. Colonel Ylanan expressed profound gratitude, stating, "We are very thankful to the Mayor for expediting this because if we missed this chance, we probably would not have caught him. If he had disembarked from the ship, he could have escaped in Luzon. We would have missed the opportunity."
Social Media Outcry and Victim's Account
The case gained widespread attention after the victim's mother posted on social media on March 8, appealing for Prajes' capture. The victim, a Grade 3 student, returned home crying and trembling on Saturday, March 7, alleging that the suspect had assaulted her.
Reports indicate that the suspect lured the victim onto his motorcycle around 8:00 AM that day, promising her money. This incident has sparked outrage and highlighted the urgency of child protection measures in the community.
