The El Nido Municipal Police Station (MPS) is conducting a follow-up investigation into the alleged attempted rape of a 29-year old British tourist to identify and arrest the suspect.
MIMAROPA Police Regional Office (MPRO) spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Socrates Faltado confirmed to Palawan News on Thursday that the female victim is a citizen of Buckinghamshire Region in Southern England, United Kingdom.
Faltado said the attempted rape of the British tourist happened around 3 a.m. on April 10 while she was walking at an alley within the premises of her hotel in Barangay Masagana, El Nido.
“The description says nasa lugar siya na madilim kaya it was presumed na medyo malapit na doon sa kaniyang place lang na pinagtitigilan. Tiningnan ko ‘yong report tapos tumawag din ako doon sa ating imbestigador. Ang naibigay lang ay nasa ‘dark corner lang siya ng alley [ng hotel].’ Based on the report, the suspect waited at the dark alley. Siguro it must be near the hotel. Doon sa part na ‘yon there is the motive siguro [o] ‘yong intention na talaga ng suspect na re-rape-in niya ‘yong babae, but because of the circumstances… hindi siya nangyari [dahil] nakatakas [agad] ‘yong ating victim,” he said.
Faltado said the British tourist resisted, fought back, and managed to escape the unidentified attacker who tried to push her against the wall in the alley.
Faltado said the suspect failed to remove any clothing from the lady victim.
“Wala, hindi nangyari ‘yon kasi parang nag-a-attempt pa lang siya nakatakbo na ‘yong ating victim, naka-bigwas na agad,” said Faltado.
He also noted that the woman only reported the matter to the police around 4 p.m. on the same day.
Faltado pointed out that this incident was the third reported sexual assault against a female tourist in El Nido for this year 2019.
“Based from my recollection pangatlo na ito dahil ‘yong una po natin ay rape na consummated, tapos meron pa tayong frustrated on the second time [na] ‘yong involved naman ay foreign national din from Spain, ito namang pangatlo ay from England,” said Faltado.
On the other hand, El Nido MPS Patrolman Michael Tom Kutat in a separate interview said that their station is having an ongoing investigation to finally apprehend the suspect.
However, he said they are not allowed to disclose its specifics to the media, nor share information directly from their station.
Referring to the past incidents of reported sexual assaults, Kutat advised female tourists in El Nido to make sure they are still sober going back to their hotels after a night of partying to ensure their safety and security.
Kutat added female tourists must take pictures of the tricycle they are about to ride, save its plate number, and driver’s full name.
“Ang advise ko [din] sana sa mga foreigners, magtira din sila ng [lakas para sa] kanilang pang-uwi kung iinom [man]. Kapag sasakay sila ng mga tricycle alamin nila kaagad kung ano ang pangalan ng [driver ng] sasakyan nila, picture-an nila ‘yong tricycle,” said Kutat.
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