ARESTADO ang kilalang cosmetic surgeon na si Joel Mendez dahil sa kasong “attempted rape” at “2 counts of rape through sexual assault”.
Ito’y matapos magsagawa ng operasyon ang mga operatiba ng Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 sa Robinsons Mall sa Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro kamakailan.
Ang paghuli kay Mendez ay sa bisa ng warrant of arrest na inisyu ni Hon. Joanne Hernandez-Lazo, Presiding Judge ng RTC-National Capital Judicial Region, Branch 5-FC, Mandaluyong City.
Ayon sa ulat, ang biktima ay isang babaeng menor de edad na umano’y model ni Mendez sa clinic nito sa SM Megamall.
Sa official statement ng Regional Director na si PBGen Rolando Anduyan, sinabi nitong dinala muna sa Maharlika detention cell ang celebrity cosmetic surgeon bago dalhin sa Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region.
“Mendez was previously arrested of WOA on attempted rape and 2 counts of rape last July 12, 2018 in Mandaluyong City and post bail for his temporary liberty for molesting a 17 years old girl and a Model of the Mendez Medical Group inside his clinic on 2015,” ayon pa sa pahayag ng police official.
“We will never stop until all wanted persons will be arrested and put them behind bars since it is our mandate to enforce the law, ensure the safety of other people that may be possible victim if they will not be arrested and give justice to the victim,” dagdag ni Anduyan.
Kung matatandaan, naaresto na rin noong July 12, 2018 si Mendez sa parehong kaso at nakulong sa Mandaluyong City Police station pero nakalaya rin matapos magpiyansa ng P360,000.
Taong 2016, na-convict din si Mendez para sa kasong tax evasion at nasintensyahan ng isa hanggang tatlong taong pagkakakulong at pagbabayad ng P10,000 bilang danyos.