A tanod of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City faces a child abuse case at the Regional Trial Court after he was caught with a minor in a downtown lodge.
It was the victim’s own brother and uncle that reported 37-year-old suspect Diomedese Bontilao to the police.
Bontilao is accused of violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act before the RTC. Bail was set at P200,000.
The complainants alleged that Bontilao took “undue advantage” of his 15-year-old victim by bringing her to a downtown lodge.
The girl who is diagnosed with epilepsy reported to her relatives that Bontilao touched and kissed her. She said she was lucky that she managed to escape.
The girl’s brother said in his affidavit that he went out at 10 a.m. on July 18 to look for his sister.
A trisikad driver told him that he saw his sister being forcibly taken by a man into the Moon Prince Lodge at Magallanes Street in downtown Cebu City.
The brother said he and an uncle immediately went to the lodge. While they were at the front desk, he saw his sister in one of the lodge’s room.
He said the girl told him about the tanod’s attempt to abuse her and his promise to give her money. The brother and his uncle caught Bontilao and turned him over to Police Station 5.