sexual assault

• NBI XI arrests suspect in Maragusan rape cases, victims urged to come forward

NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI XI) operatives apprehended a 30-year-old suspect in the sexual assault of four victims, including three of his nieces, in Maragusan, Davao de Oro. 

The suspect, whose identity has been withheld, was arrested on Wednesday, July 3, 2025, outside the Jollibee branch in Ecoland, Davao City, by virtue of an arrest warrant issued in 2023.

NBI agent Vicente Essex Minguez confirmed the arrest during a press conference at the NBI XI office on Thursday morning, adding that the suspect will face four counts of rape and statutory rape.

“We encourage other victims to file another case because they are truly in a pitiful situation. Now, justice has been served; we have arrested the suspect,” Minguez stated, emphasizing the prolonged nature of the suspect’s evasion. “The warrant was issued in 2023, and now he has finally been caught.”

One of the victims, now 19 years old, recounted her ordeal after her uncle started touching her when she was just 11 years old. She detailed how the initial incident occurred in a remote area while they were supposedly gathering fruit. 

She described being given P80 by her uncle before he forcibly molested her. “He coerced me, saying he would kill my family if I told anyone,” she tearfully shared.

The victim also revealed that the abuse continued incessantly. Another incident occurred later that night when her father unwittingly asked her to accompany her uncle to deliver medicine. Despite her reluctance, she was compelled to go, realizing her uncle’s sinister intentions.

Tragically, the victim discovered in 2023 that her younger siblings had also been victimized when she stayed in Davao City for work.

“I left for how many years to save my family, but what happened was that my younger siblings were also victims,” she said, crying. “I thought my family was safe, but it wasn’t. 

That’s why I filed the case, because I thought he wouldn’t repeat it, but he’s so monstrous.” 

She filed the case on March 7, 2023.

She finally confronted her attacker at the NBI XI headquarters. “Why did you do this to us? It hurts so much. It’s okay if you touched me, but why involve my younger siblings?” she cried, adding, “You were in hiding for so long. Do you know our family was in chaos because of this? Many of Papa’s relatives are angry with us because of you.” 

When asked about forgiveness, she firmly stated, “Not now.”

Suspect’s confession

During an interview, the suspect admitted to molesting his nieces but denied threatening them with a knife during the initial incident, contradicting the victim’s testimony. 

“That’s not true because I didn’t have a knife at that time,” he claimed, though he confessed to molesting the victim.

He denied molesting the victim’s younger siblings or a fourth victim who was a neighbor, stating, “I pity the children.”

When pressed about his motives, he vaguely attributed his actions to his youth at the time, stating, “Maybe it was because of my youth, my age. I was 18 years old before, and now I’m 30 years old.” 

He admitted to using marijuana in the past but claimed to have changed. 

He also claimed that he regretted what he did. “I just ask for their forgiveness, hoping they can forgive me because I have changed. I just ask for forgiveness.”

Minguez stated that the suspect will undergo a drug test and will be transported back to Nabunturan for court proceedings. If found guilty, he faces a non-bailable offense and a potential jail sentence of 30 years.

“We encourage victims, especially those neighbors who were affected, to come to the NBI and file a complaint against this suspect so he won’t be released.”

Photo courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron