Duterte outraged by rape-slay of 1-year-old boy

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Caraga State University in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on April 21, 2019. ARMAN BAYLON/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is “outraged” by the rape and killing of a one-year-old boy, whose body was later found in Makati, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, who described the crime as “barbaric”, said Duterte was angered upon hearing the news.

“The tragic news has reached the attention of the President and he, like all Filipinos, has been extremely outraged by this heinous criminal act,” Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo, meanwhile, hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the arrest of the suspect, 28-year-old Gerald Reparip, who owned up to the crime.

PNP said the suspect will be made to take a test to determine illegal drug use.

“Given the atrocity of this felony, investigation is also being undertaken to determine whether the suspect is under the influence of drugs,” Panelo said.

If proven that the suspect was indeed acting under the influence of drugs, Panelo said this should serve as a sign that the drug war should be beefed up.

“Siyempre ipapaimbestiga natin at lalong papaigtingin natin siguro ‘pag nalaman natin na kagagawan na naman ‘yan ng mga nasa droga (Of course, we will have that investigated and we will strengthen the drug war once we find out it is caused by illegal drugs),” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

He also assured the public that authorities will bring justice to the young boy and his family.

Reports showed that Reparip admitted to raping the victim before eventually choking him to death.

The child’s body was later found by his grandmother on the 7th floor of an abandoned building along Yakal Street in San Antonio, Makati City.

The suspect admitted to being under the influence of alcohol.