A 37-year-old man was arrested by police on Thursday for sexual harassment after he allegedly touched the breasts of two women in separate incidents in Tagbilaran City.
PO2 Anna Ligue of the Tagbilaran City police’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk identified the suspect as Jose Villella who lives along M. Parras Street in Tagbilaran City with his live-in partner.
Authorities, however, did not identify the victims.
According to Ligue, the latest victim was walking along CPG Avenue as she was about to attend the traditional dawn mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Thursday when Villella allegedly followed her.
The victim tried to walk faster but Villella caught up with her and wrapped his arm around her to grab her breasts.
Ligue said the victim was able to run and ask for help from Active Local Emergency Response Team (ALERT) members who, in turn, went after Villella and arrested him.
Prior to the incident, Villella also allegedly grabbed the breasts of a 17-year-old girl on Wednesday while she was walking near the Tagbilaran Community Hospital in Poblacion 3.
A security guard of Gerarda’s restaurant saw the incident and tried to chase down Villella but the suspect was able to escape.
After his arrest on Thursday, Villella was also positively identified by the 17-year-old victim as her attacker.
Complaints for acts of lasciviousness are set to be filed against Villella. (A. Doydora)