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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/27 September) – Police today launched a manhunt for at least 10 suspects in the gang-rape Saturday of a 21-year old government nurse assigned in Maguindanao province.
Dr. Tahir Sulaik, provincial health officer of Maguindanao, said the victim was a volunteer nurse who was assigned in Timanan, South Upi town.
The victim told police she was on her way to visit a midwife in Timanan when flagged down and dragged to a cornfield by at least 10 males who took turns in raping her.
South Upi is about 50 kilometers southwest of Cotabato City where the victim resides.
The victim was found by bystanders on Sunday morning, naked and unconscious.
Chief Supt. Bienvenido Latag, police director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the victim was rushed to a hospital in Cotabato City for medical treatment.
Reports said some of the suspects belong to rich families of politicians in Maguindanao.
Latag said he already ordered a thorough probe of the gang-rape.
In a statement, the Cotabato City chapter of the militant women’s group Gabriela said they will join an indignation rally Tuesday at the city plaza to be led by the city’s health sector.
Gabriela said they are calling on the local government of South Upi to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)