A 19-year-old girl in Maribojoc town was able to escape the clutches of a man believed to be the suspect wanted for the rape-murder of a child in neighboring Antequera town. SPO2 Teodoro Araiz of the Maribojoc PNP told Station DyTR that the victim was taking a bath about 6 am on Good Friday near the water tank behind their house when the suspect suddenly arrived. Since the girl was small, the suspect was able to carry her towards a grass portion away from the house. When she saw an opening, however, the girl immediately made a dash for freedom away from the suspect.

The suspect was able to get hold of the victim’s dress but the girl continued to wrestle free.   When the portion of her dress which the suspect gripped was ripped off, the girl continued running until she reached the residence of one Erlinda Anaviso of the same barangay. Araiz said that the victim revealed that the suspect who attempted to rape her looked like the pictures of wanted rapist Emilio Panillon. Panillon is being hunted by authorities in connection with the rape and killing of a 7-year-old girl in Barangay Bantolinao, Antequera.

Pictures of Panillon have been distributed in different towns of the province urging people to report any sightings of him. Panillon’s freedom has sowed terror among residents in many places for fear that he will strike again.  After the rape attempt, the 19-year-old girl was brought to a hospital in Maribojoc for treatment to bruises she sustained in her dash for freedom and for medical check-up.  The suspect again made good his escape when responding policemen arrived at the scene. Authorities have appealed to residents not only to report sightings of the suspect but also to refrain from spreading rumors that would heighten fear among residents.  The suspect’s ability to break through the police dragnet has fanned stories that he possesses an amulet that helps him escape pursuing policemen.