Construction worker admits raping, strangling 1-year-old boy in Makati

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The construction worker who admitted to raping and strangling a one-year-old boy in an abandoned building in Makati City after a night of drinking spree, will undergo a drug test to determine if he was high on illegal drugs when he committed the grisly crime.

Major Gideon Ines Jr., Makati Police Investigation Unit chief, said though the suspect, 28-year-old Gerald Reparip, has admitted to committing the crime while intoxicated with liquor, law enforcers still wanted to determine whether this was a drug-related crime.

The victim John Angelo Salenga was found dead Wednesday morning, July 17, on the 34th floor of an abandoned building in Yakal Street, Barangay San Antonio, Makati. Police said the body of the boy was recovered sprawled on the floor of the building wearing only his t-shirt.  

Ines said the victim had bruises all over his body, as well as, strangulation marks. An initial poilice report said the victim died because of severe traumatic injuries he sustained.

The victim’s relatives said they resided in the 7th floor of the abandoned building because they were the caretakers of the area.

A police report said Reparip, relatives of the victim, and other friends were drinking Tuesday night, July 16, on the 7th floor of the building. It was the birthday of an uncle of the victim.

Witnesses said they saw Reparip playing with the boy during that occasion.

It was later that night when the victim’s mother noticed her son was missing.

After a frantic search, they found the young Salenga’s lifeless body on the 34th floor of the building in the early hours of Wednesday.

That same morning, police arrested Reparip who was then sleeping with members of the victim’s family.

Reparip admitted to committing the crime while in police custody.

The suspect told the police he was so drunk that night and he did not mean to kill the boy.

Malañang strongly condemned the incident.

“The tragic news has reached the attention of the President and he, like all Filipinos, has been extremely outraged by this heinous criminal act,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Thursday, July 18. 

“We assure everyone that authorities will leave no stone unturned to give justice to the young boy and his family,” Panelo added. – Rappler.com