IRIGA CITY –- A member of a local Agta tribe here is now behind bar after he was arrested and charged of raping a 6-year old girl in a remote village last November 21, 2007.

        Former City Councilor Edsel Dimaiwat identified the 17-year old suspect as Joseph Lumabe, a resident of sitio Ilian, in Barangay San Nicolas, but temporarily resides at Brgy. Salvacion where he had been working as a helper in a duck farm prior to the incident.

        “I was thankful that I was able to prevent what could have been a bloody incident when I spotted Lumabe being chased by some of the victim’s kins with bladed weapons in their hands” Dimaiwat told Bicol Mail.

        Police investigation disclosed that around 12 noon of that fateful day, Shirley (not her real name) was playing in front of their house when asked by the suspect to go with him on a pretext that he would let the victim see some duck’s eggs.

        Upon reaching a grassy lot near the victim’s house, the suspect started to strip Shirley’s clothes; took off his own pants and subsequently forced himself into her, investigation showed.

        After the act, Lumabe reportedly fled from the crime scene that gave the victim the opportunity to put on her clothes and run towards their house as fast as she could.

        In between crying and grimacing in pain, the girl was able to narrate her ordeal before her horrified mother as she noted that her daughter’s private part was bleeding.

        An hour after the incident was reported to police, Lumabe yielded to Dimaiwat who came to save him before the victim’s family could inflict harm on him.

        Shirley was an easy prey for Lumabe who told investigators that before he commited the unlawful act, he could hardly control his sexual urge as a result of reading pornographic magazines. “Nagbabasa kaya ako sa bombang komiks,” Lumabe reportedly said.

        City Health officer, Dr. Angelo Agudo came out with a certification that the victim bore lacerations on the hymen at 11 and 1 o’clock positions.