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Lapu-Lapu City police arrested on Wednesday seven members of a street gang believed behind the killing of a 16-year-old boy and the rape of his girlfriend before dawn on Sunday.
The suspects were charged yesterday with rape and murder before the Lapu-Lapu prosecutor?s office, said said Senior Insp. Condrado Manatad, head of the police station 5.
Manatad said two of the seven suspects ? Joel Ramirez and Jeffrey Cabilao ? are of legal age. The five others are minors aged 15 to 17.
Six suspects, he said, are members of the Bloods gang. Cabilao, the group's gunman, is a Crips member.
The suspects are accused of the murder of Russel Booc and the rape of the latter?s 16-year-old girlfriend.
Reports said Booc and his girlfriend used to be Blood members but recently transferred to Crips.
Police investigation showed that Booc and his girlfriend had sex on a grassy portion of sitio Buaya after which they went out to eat at a nearby burger station.
Manatad said the two were on their way back when the seven suspects blocked their path and dragged them into a dimly lit portion of the vacant lot.
The suspects then allegedly took turns in raping the girl before Cabilao allegedly shot Booc dead.
Police first arrested the 17-year-old Rafael (not his real name) inside his house in barangay Bankal about 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
The rape victim whom Manatad spoke with on Tuesday identified Rafael as among the seven suspects.
Booc also knew Cabilao because they both belong to the Crips gang.
Rafael admitted that he and his six other companions were behind Booc's killing and the rape of his girlfriend.
After Rafael confessed, Manatad said they conducted follow-up operations which led to the arrest of the six other suspects.
All the suspects are now detained at the Lapu-Lapu Police Station.
Manatad said they were still waiting for a court order so they would be guided on what to do with the five minors.
But Cabilao denied killing Booc, claiming he was at home with his wife at dawn on Sunday.
Rafael told police that Ramirez went to see him on Saturday afternoon in barangay Buaya and asked him to accompany him.
Ramirez and Cabilao agreed to go out after midnight to vandalize. Ramirez told Cabilao he would bring along other companions.
The seven suspects met along the road in barangay Buaya about 1 a.m. on Sunday.
They were on their way to sitio Saac when they chanced upon Booc and his girlfriend who were on their way to a dimly lit portion of barangay Buaya.
Rafael said Ramirez blocked Booc's way. He dragged his girlfriend while the other suspects dragged Booc.
Holding a gun, Ramirez allegedly asked his companions to take turns in raping the girl otherwise he would shoot them. Afraid, Rafael said they raped the girl. Their 16 year old companion was the first to rape the girl.
After the rape, Cabilao alleged put his gun inside Booc's mouth and pulled the trigger. The seven suspects then scampered to escape.
Manatad said that six of the suspects pointed to Cabilao as the gunman.
