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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/28 September) – Government health workers from South Upi town in Maguindanao province today staged an indignation rally in Cotabato City condemning the gang-rape of their co-worker.
They demanded justice for ‘Florence” (not her real name), a volunteer nurse assigned in South Upi who was raped on Saturday by at least 10 males.
Dr. Tahir Sulaik, provincial health officer of Maguindanao, said they want the suspects, many of whom belong to rich families, placed behind bars.
Sulaik said there should be no whitewash on the investigation of the case.
Reports said Florence was still being treated in a hospital in Cotabato City with policemen securing her room.
Her family and relatives fear for her safety because some of the suspects are sons of wealthy politicians and police officers.
On Monday, the Philippine National Police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Florence was on her way home after visiting a co-worker in Barangay Timanan on Saturday night when the suspects dragged her to a cornfield where they took turns in raping her.
She was found naked and unconscious the next day by some bystanders in the area. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
