Makati Police arrested a man who was wanted for a rape case while he was getting government cash aid in Makati City, Sunday morning.
The suspect was identified as Jerry Dela Cruz, 23, who was wanted for raping his 17-year-old female friend while they were drinking two years ago.
According to Makati City police, Dela Cruz went to the barangay hall of Pembo, Makati City, to collect cash aid under the social amelioration program – the government’s assistance to families affected by enhanced community quarantine.
Police stood by at the barangay hall as the suspect was getting cash aid, and the police immediately spoke to him while he was signing the forms.
The suspect sensed that he was about to be arrested, and he ran to escape the authorities. Dela Cruz did not go far and was arrested immediately.
The police asked the barangay officials to give cash assistance to the suspect’s family before he was taken to the precinct.
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Man wanted for rape arrested while getting cash aid in Makati
“Napag-alaman na siya ay beneficiary ng social amelioration program. Nung nakita ng nga operatiba natin na pinipirma niya yung pangalan niya, nakita natin doon sa video na nilapitan na siya,” said Makati Police Chief Col. Rogelio Simon.
(We found out that he was a beneficiary of the social amelioration program. When the operatives saw he signed his name. We saw in the video that they approached him.)
The suspect said he did not force the victim into the incident, so he did not know he had a case.
“Gusto ko pong makausap ‘yung babae… Hindi ko naman po kasalanan na nagawa ko ‘yun eh. Alam naman niya ‘yun kung mapapatawad niya ako,” said Dela Cruz.
(I want to talk to the woman. It was not my fault that I did that. She knew that so I know she can forgive me.)
The suspect will be detained in a separate jail for two weeks, following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols before he would be mixed with other prisoners.
As of May 12, DOH reported there are now 11,350 cases (264 new cases), 25 new deaths (751 total), and 107 new recoveries (2,106 total).