By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two girls managed to escape an attempted sexual assault recently in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

Police have refused to reveal the identities of the involved parties but said the two girls are sisters aged eight and 13 years old, while the accused is 54 years old.

The Himamaylan City Police Station-Women and Children’s Protection Desk said, around 11:00 a.m., the victims were alone in their home when the suspect arrived and invited them into a small hut located within a sugar plantation.

The victims reportedly followed the suspect and, upon arrival, the suspect began sexually assaulting the 13 year old.

The victims fought back by throwing and smashing hard objects at the suspect. He responded by picking up a bladed weapon and hacking the two girls.

The girls escaped with only minor injuries and are presently confined at an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

The suspect, meanwhile, is reportedly still at large.

Police believe he may have already fled into Negros Oriental as the area where the crime took place was near the border of the two provinces.

Himamaylan City police are presently coordinating with the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office to search for the suspect./DGB, WDJ