Quezon City authorities arrested a construction worker for allegedly molesting a mentally challenged woman inside a tricycle, Thursday.
Officials and Barangay San Jose watchmen or “tanod” confronted the suspect Rendel Mancera when they saw though a surveillance camera that he was molesting the 20-year old victim.
The CCTV footage showed Mancera walking towards a parked tricycle in Barangay San Jose, Quezon City. The victim, a mentally challenged woman, was on the vehicle’s side.
A few minutes later, the footage showed Mancera molesting the victim inside the tricycle. The suspect did not know that barangay officials were already monitoring him via CCTV. Officials confronted him immediately and took him into custody at the barangay hall.
“Kinurot yung puso ko e, yung damdamin ko. Sinamanatala nya po yung kahinaan. Special child po yun e. ” said the victim’s father.
(It broke my heart. He took advantage of her weakness. She was a special child.)
Witnesses showed up at the barangay hall who said aside from the incident in the tricycle, the suspect also molested the victim near the construction site’s barracks where the suspect works.
The suspect allegedly held the victim between his legs and covered her mouth as she tried to escape, the witness said.
The construction worker denied the allegations saying the victim was the one who comes to him.
The suspect was put to jail and will face rape charges.