Coast Guard personnel could be involved in other sexual attacks: NBI
A MEMBER of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Davao faces criminal charges for the alleged rape of a 21-year-old freelance model in the city on April 18.
He was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation- South Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) personnel on Saturday, April 22, at around 11:45 p.m.
NBI XI director lawyer Arceli Albao identified him as Khalid Abdullah, 31, newly assigned in Davao for one year and assigned before in Cagayan de Oro City as a coast guard.
Albao said Abdullah will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law, RA 9208 or the Anti-trafficking of Persons, and RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms). The cases will be filed through an inquest proceeding at the City Prosecution Office.
The suspect was arrested in an entrapment operation after he requested to meet her at Doña Vicente Village. Reportedly, he pointed a gun at the victim to force her into entering his car at around 11:45 last Saturday.
“They only met once during the rape incident, which happened on Tuesday last week,” he said.
The victim claimed the suspect contacted her first through Instagram, discussing a possible project. She rejected the offer, but he contacted her again using another account. She only relented when they had a video chat and saw that he was wearing a Coast Guard uniform.
She said she was picked up at 4:20 a.m., supposedly for an event a the Coast Guard headquarters in Panacan by 5 a.m.
“He picked me up in Matina, and while we were driving to Panacan, he told me he would alight first. Suddenly, he pointed his gun at my neck and then snatched my phone so I couldn’t ask for help,” the victim said.
The suspect threatened to kill her while he raped her inside his car.
She alleged Abdullah raped her the second time inside an inn after inviting her for drinks. “I just agreed because I feared for my life,” she said, adding that she was relieved that he brought her home afterwards instead of killing her.
“Grabe ang trauma,” she said.
On Saturday, Abdullah contacted her on Instagram and acted as if nothing happened. So, the victim decided to report to the NBI because she thought he would finally kill her.
Albao said the victim was raped at the darkened portion near City Gate in Cabantian.
“When she came here, we processed [the case], and we found out the subject is a PCG personnel assigned in Davao City,” he said. “The vehicle being used was not a Coast Guard vehicle.”
For now, the vehicle and firearm are under the custody of the NBI. “We are waiting for the certification of the PCG, but we already confirmed that he is a PCG personnel,” he added.
Same suspect in Davao Sur rape?
Albao said he received information from Davao del Sur that the subject was also implicated in rape cases in Digos and Bansalan.
” We are now conducting a thorough Investigation [on the matter],” he said.
The victim is determined to pursue a case against Abdullah. “Di ko gusto nga daghan sya mabiktima (I don’t want him to claim other victims),” she said.
