A tricycle driver in El Nido, Palawan was sentenced to 12 to 20 years in prison for raping a 21-year-old Irish tourist.
The 39-year-old tricycle driver, identified as Perry Gaspe, pleaded guilty to raping the tourist to avoid receiving a life sentence.
On top of imprisonment, the driver was also asked to Php100,000 for violating the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
The Irish victim said Gaspe took advantage of her when she was on her way to a hostel.
According to investigations, the victim was with her companions when they rode Gaspe’s tricycle to take them home.
The Irish tourist stayed at a different hostel from her companions so she got off the tricycle before them.
Gaspe, however, insisted to walk the tourist to her hostel, while the rest of her friends were left inside the tricycle.
When they passed by a narrow lane, Gaspe took advantage of the victim.
Chief Insp. Starky Timbancaya, station commander ng El Nido-Municipal Police, was quoted as saying: “Sila po’y nakainom at sila’y nanggaling po sa isang bar dito sa bayan po ng El Nido. Dahil siguro sa kalasingan at talagang medyo nakainom na ay naisagawa nung suspek yung kaniyang balak para doon sa nahalay na babae.”
