UPLB student raped near campus, suspect arrested

Laguna police have arrested the suspect in the rape of a student from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The 17-year-old victim positively identified Jose Montecillo as the rapist.

The 26-year-old colorum tricycle driver admitted to the crime. He faces charges of rape and child abuse.

Assaulted and left behind

Authorities said the victim had come from a school event at around and was headed home at around 9:30 p.m. She rode a tricycle in Barangay Maahas.

The driver reportedly brought the victim to a dimly-lit part of Barangay Putho-Tuntungin and raped her.

The driver left the victim behind in the same area after the incident.

The incident occurred along IPB Road in Putho, near where another UPLB student, Given Grace Cebanico, was raped and killed in October 2011.

UPLB Chancellor Dr. Enrique Tolentino expressed that the UPLB community was shocked by the incident—because the area had already been equipped with lights and CCTV cameras to deter those with criminal intent.

UPLB will extend assistance for the student’s medical needs, as well as give her guidance in her academic requirements.

How the suspect was caught

In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Francis Faulve at 3:30 a.m. Friday, Laguna Police Director Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao told radio DZMM they arrested the suspect, tricycle driver Jose ‘Joey’ Montecillo, at 12:45 a.m. Friday.

Montecillo, 26, allegedly confessed to raping the UPLB student.

“Walang siyang masabi kung ‘di pinagsisihan niya,” Saligao said.

Saligao said Montecillo was hiding in his aunt’s house in (also in Laguna) when he was arrested by the police.

Saligao explained that police got a break when they learned from Montecillo’s wife, who has just given birth, that she received a letter from Montecillo asking for forgiveness for his crime. He had told her he was going to leave and hide.

Montecillo has five children.

Saligao added that the student did not take the tricycle at the tricycle terminal, which is manned by a barangay tanod, because of the long queue. She decided to walk away from the terminal and wait for a tricycle along the way. She was offered a ride by Montecillo while she was walking alone.