Businessman arrested for 40 counts of rape

DAVAO CITY – A businessman facing 40 counts of qualified rape of a minor has been arrested by authorities in Davao City.

Police officers from Santa Ana Police Station 1, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao City Field Unit, and the 1st Davao City Mobile Force Company (1st CMFC) served the arrest warrant on the suspect, identified as Russel Labajo Babao.

Babao, a resident of Purok 5-B, Kawayanan Road, Bago Oshiro, is charged under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997) and Republic Act 11648 (Expanding the Definition of Statutory Rape and Strengthening Protection of Children Against Sexual Abuse).

The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Glenn De Castro Aquino, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 33, with no bail recommended.

The suspect is currently in police custody at Santa Ana Police Station 1 pending further legal proceedings.