LAWYER-BROADCASTER Juril Patiño is facing criminal charges before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl inside his car last July 13.
The victim was assisted by her parents in executing her complaint-affidavit to support the rape complaint against Patiño, said Arnel Pura, agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Visayas.
Pura could not could ascertain the location of the girl, who went missing after she and her mother were in a public hospital in Cebu for a psychological consultation last Friday afternoon.
The complaint will undergo preliminary investigation where the respondent may be asked to submit his counter-affidavit to allow him to answer the charges leveled against him.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government will raise P100,000 as a reward for anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of the girl.
The City is asking all government agencies and security agencies to help look for her.
Francisco Fernandez, executive assistant of the mayor, said the City is now working on an all-out search for the girl.
Prior to filing of the case, four agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas met with Fernandez and Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, to discuss the status of the child’s case.
Tumulak said the agents, who refused to grant interviews to the media, explained that it took time for them to file the case because they had to collate all “strong evidences” against the accused.
“They can’t just rely on the statement of the victim that’s why they had to investigate carefully. They don’t want to file a half-baked case since the accused is also a lawyer,” he said.
Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria said they will help look for the girl.
He directed the chiefs of police stations to help out.
Doria said they will ask the relatives and friends of the minor. (GMD, RTF, KAL)
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