Trike driver who raped Irish tourist gets 20 years within days of attack

trike driver
Rapist Perry Gaspe and an exterior view of the hostel where the Irish tourist was staying

A trike driver in El Nido, Palawan, has been jailed for up to 20 years less than a week after he admitted raping an Irish tourist.

In a rare example of swift justice, Perry Gaspe was sentenced by a local court yesterday (Tuesday, February 19). He was handed a minimum of 12 years and a maximum of 20 after he pleaded guilty to raping a 21-year old Irish tourist in the early hours of last Wednesday (February 13). He will also have to pay a 100,000-peso fine. 

Gaspe was convicted under Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. He has now been transferred to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City.

Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario said Gaspe was located, arrested and jailed by police just hours after the tourist reported the attack.

As we previously reported, the un-named tourist was returning by trike from a night out with two friends, who were staying at a different guesthouse.

When the trike arrived at the Elternative Hostel at 4am the trike driver offered to help his victim find her room. However, before they arrived, he attacked and raped her in a dark alleyway.

Accounts differ as to whether the two female friends were waiting in the trike during the attack, or had already been dropped off at their accommodation.

Gaspe escaped after the attack and the victim contacted her friends for help. Together, they went to the El Nido Municipal Police Station to report the incident at about 7am.

Police immediately launched a manhunt that led to the arrest of Gaspe just two hours later. The victim was then able to positively identify him as the man who had raped her. Gaspe then admitted his guilt and a swift hearing led to his sentencing in less than a week.

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