Apalit police chief Supt. Samuel Sevilla identified the suspect as Antonio Tala, single, and resident of the barangay where the alleged rape happened.
Sevilla said that at about 7 a.m. last Wednesday, the victim went to the Dang Pepey store to buy some chips for herself. On her way home, Tala allegedly called her, and said he would give her his P5 coin if she went with him.
Tala then brought the child to an empty house of his sister where he allegedly raped the girl in a room. He later allowed the girl to go home without threatening her against telling others what had happened, police said.
At home, however, the girl showed her mother the P5 coin. Asked by her mother where the coin came from, the girl innocently related what happened.
Police said the mother then sought the help of the Bantay Bayan members who sought police help. Tala was arrested two hours after the alleged rape incident.
Pampanga police director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Reconomo commended the Bantay Bayan volunteers and the Apalit police for immediate action on the case that led to the immediate arrest of the suspect.
