A 49-year-old man was arrested Friday by police in Barangay Ginopolan, Valencia after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Suspect Michael Tagahanan allegedly raped Maria (not her real name), a Grade 7 student of the Valencia Technical Vocational High School and a resident of Brgy. Canmanico, inside a cemetery earlier that day.

Based on Valencia police investigation, Tagahanan approached Maria and invited her to have lunch with him on Friday noon.

Maria was on her way to an acquaintance party inside the Pablo O. Lim Astrodome in Barangay Poblacion Occidental, police said.

After eating, Taganahan then allegedly took Maria to the Valencia Upper Cemetery in Poblacion Occidental where he forcibly removed her shorts and underwear and raped her.

Tagahanan then reportedly gave P100 to the victim following the alleged rape.

Maria reported the incident to authorities and claimed that the suspect had already molested her prior to the alleged rape at the cemetery.

The police immediately responded to Maria’s complaint arresting Tagahanan inside his home at past 8 p.m. on the same day of the alleged rape.

Tagahanan was detained at the Valencia lock-up jail pending the filing of charges against him. (Allen Doydora)