Marikina police arrest 19-year-old for alleged cemetery molestation of minor

• Marikina police arrested a 19-year-old suspect for allegedly molesting a 15-year-old girl in two different cemeteries in 2024
• The victim claimed the suspect lured her to meet after she failed to return a borrowed piece of clothing, leading to the alleged assaults
• The suspect, alias "Mike," denied the charges, claiming the victim was his girlfriend and that she invited him to the site to meet her late kin
• Facing two counts of acts of lasciviousness, the suspect was apprehended in Barangay Fortune following a warrant issued in October

Authorities in Marikina City have apprehended a 19-year-old man in connection with the alleged molestation of a teenage girl inside two separate local cemeteries.

The arrest, executed on Monday afternoon in Barangay Fortune, marks a significant step in a legal process that began after a series of disturbing incidents reported in mid-2024.

The suspect, identified by the alias "Mike," was served an arrest warrant for two counts of acts of lasciviousness.

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According to investigators from the Marikina City Police, the formal complaint stems from events that allegedly took place in May 2024.

At the time, the suspect was 17 years old, while the victim was a 15-year-old student.

The investigation revealed that the encounter was reportedly triggered by a trivial dispute over a pair of borrowed cycling shorts.

When the victim informed the suspect she could not return the item because it had been lost, the suspect allegedly insisted on a face-to-face meeting.

This meeting took place inside a cemetery in Barangay Santa Elena, where the first instance of molestation allegedly occurred.

A second, similar incident was later reported at another cemetery in Barangay Tañong.

While the police have moved forward with the charges following the court's issuance of a warrant in October 2024, the suspect has firmly denied the allegations.

Speaking from police custody, "Mike" claimed that the victim was actually his girlfriend at the time and that the meetings were consensual and non-malicious.

The suspect provided a starkly different version of the events, claiming it was the girl who invited him to the cemetery under the guise of an introduction.

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"She asked me to go there to introduce me to her grandmother," the suspect claimed in Filipino. "I thought we were going to a house, but it turned out to be the cemetery.

She only then told me that her grandmother had already passed away." He maintained that no form of s3xual misconduct took place during their time together.

Despite his defense, the Marikina police proceeded with the arrest based on the standing warrant.

The case highlights the complexities of "he-said-she-said" scenarios involving minors, which are now being weighed by the judiciary.

The suspect remains in the custody of the Marikina City Police as the case for two counts of acts of lasciviousness moves toward trial.

In a related news, a 16-year-old student walking home in her school uniform was targeted by a male motorcycle rider who physically harassed her on a Bacolod City sidewalk. The perpetrator reportedly stopped his vehicle and claimed to be an acquaintance of the victim's parents to lower her guard before forcefully kissing and embracing her. Bacolod Police Station 2 officials have identified a primary suspect and are currently cross-referencing his details with other reported harassment cases in nearby districts. To address the victim's severe emotional distress, local barangay leaders and social workers have initiated psychological first aid and are providing legal guidance for the family.

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In other news, a 61-year-old motorist died after his motorcycle collided head-on with another bike in Barangay Cabaruan, Urdaneta City, on a Sunday evening. Authorities confirmed that a critical lack of safety gear contributed to the fatality, as none of the individuals involved in the crash were wearing helmets at the time. While the elderly rider was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, two other people sustained significant injuries and are currently undergoing medical treatment. Police investigators concluded that the accident was likely triggered by a spatial misjudgment, resulting in the high-speed collision occurring in the middle of the thoroughfare.

Source: KAMI.com.gh