An 8-year-old girl who was hit, strangled, raped, and put inside a sack for dead managed to get her attacker behind bars after she survived the harrowing incident that took place in Taguig City on Sunday.
Suspect Sotero Manuguid Jr., a 33-year-old construction worker, allegedly lured the girl to come with him in exchange for PHP200 (US$3.90) while she was playing outside her house in Barangay (village) Ibayo-Tipas at around 3pm, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
The girl was then brought to a vacant lot where Manuguid, her neighbor, allegedly hit and strangled her before the rape, according to GMA News.
Taguig City Police head of investigation Police Major Ramon Christian Laygo told GMA News that the suspect allegedly threatened the child that he would kill her if she tells anyone what happened. He allegedly hit the victim again before putting her inside a sack, believing she was dead.
However, the girl survived and managed to get out of the sack. She crawled on the street until her grandfather found her, a representative from the Taguig City Police’s women and children’s protection desk told Inquirer.
The victim told her parents what happened and identified Manuguid as her alleged attacker. They reported the incident to the police and the girl confirmed the suspect’s identity when authorities presented his photo.
The girl is now at a district hospital, according to Remate and medical records show that she was raped.
Manuguid was arrested on the same day the incident occurred and is now detained at the Taguig City Police Station. He was charged with rape and frustrated homicide in relation to the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
However, the suspect has denied the accusations and told GMA News that he allegedly only saw the girl when she was on her way out of the vacant lot.
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