ROBBER-RAPIST. The police mug shot of Ryan Sumon-ay, 28, from Maramag town, Bukidnon, who is accused of robbery and rape. Sumon-ay was captured on Wednesday after speeding through a checkpoint in Valencia City, Bukidnon. (Photo courtest Valencia Police Office)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Authorities in Valencia City in Bukidnon called on Friday women who may have been victimized by a man who is now facing multiple charges for robbery, rape, and frustrated homicide, to come forward and press charges.
Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, Valencia City Police chief, said they arrested Ryan Sumon-ay, 28, from Maramag town, Bukidnon, when he ignored a checkpoint on the Sayre Highway on the Valencia-Maramag boundary on Wednesday.
According to a police report, the suspect was charged with speeding but he turned out to be the suspect in a series of rape incidents as well as the alleged perpetrator in a number of criminal activities in Bukidnon.
Sereñas said Sumon-ay had just robbed and raped a woman, only identified by police as “Rica” (not her real name), in Valencia hours before he was nabbed.
He said Sumon-ay has just recently bailed out of prison for frustrated homicide prior to the alleged rape incident.
“[Sumon-ay] was identified by Rica as the one who robbed and raped her,” Sereñas said, adding the female victim has already filed a case in court against Sumon-ay on Thursday.
In Malaybalay City, the suspect also has a pending warrant of arrest for another frustrated homicide case, he said.
Sereñas said another woman came forward to accuse Sumon-ay as the one who allegedly sexually abused, robbed, and almost killed her in Quezon town, Bukidnon, last month.
“Several healed lacerations are still visible on Katrina’s throat, a stark reminder of her grim struggle with the suspect,” the police chief said.
A third female, who only goes by the alias “Rebecca,” a resident of Maramag, also claimed she was raped by the suspect weeks ago.
Sereñas said both Katrina and Rebecca managed to identify Sumon-ay after they heard the news on the radio of his arrest.
“This is beginning to look like we’ve got a serial rapist here,” he said.
The suspect’s modus operandi, he said, was to cruise the streets of Bukidnon to look for females he can victimize.
“He acted alone. With his motorcycle, he roamed around until he sees a woman walking alone in a dimly lit street, at night, and then he strikes,” Sereñas said, adding that there may be more women who fell prey to the suspect.
“We are expecting more victims to come forward and hopefully file charges against the suspect in the next few days,” he added. (PNA)
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