Man held for rape, pregnancy of stepdaughter

By Freddie Lazaro

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The National Bureau of Investigation has rescued a 12-year-old girl who was made a sex slave and impregnated by her stepfather in Quirino province.
    Dado Araos, chief of the NBI-Bayombong District Office (BAYDO), said the suspect was arrested and underwent inquest proceedings last Thursday for violation of Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 8353, An Act expanding the definition of the crime of rape, as amended, and Republic Act 7610 (Child Abuse Law).
    The mother of the girl was also arrested for violation of RA 7610 after the NBI found out she knew about the sexual exploitation but did not file any complaint.
    NBI agent-on-case Rodelyn Gay Eugenio said they were informed about the ordeal of the girl last Monday and headed to Cabarroguis town in Quirino and coordinated with the provincial social workers' office to verify the girl’s records and contacted some of her relatives.
    NBI agents, together with social workers, headed to Saguday town to invite the victim, her mother, and the suspect to a family counseling as “there was no strong basis yet to make an arrest.” 
    During counseling at the Provincial Social Welfare Office in Cabarroguis, the victim burst into tears in the arms of her maternal aunt who was waiting together with other relatives and revealed her ordeal.
    “After crying for several minutes, the victim bared how her stepfather sexually abused her since 2020 when she was ten-years-old,” Eugenio said.
    The victim told authorities she could not reveal her ordeal to her mother because the suspect threatened her.
    "She has no one to confide to as she was isolated without communication by the (suspect) from their relatives by transferring them to another place,” Eugenio said.
    The victim’s mother, who even admitted to once seeing his live-in partner on top of her daughter, is equally liable, the NBI said, hence, her child abuse case.