TAGBILARAN CITY ---- A man is facing rape charges for allegedly molesting a 73-year-old masseuse, who later died in Barangay Botoc in Loay town in Bohol on New Year's Day.

Police arrested Melchor Gonzalez, 39, a neighbor of the victim, in a follow-up operation by the Loay Police Station.

Police Staff Sergeant Analyn Taer of the Women's and Children's Protection Desk Officer of the Loay Police Station said the victim, who was a known traditional masseuse in their place, lived alone in her hut.

A police investigation revealed that while the suspect was on his way to the victim's nipa hut, a 14-year-old girl asked him where he was going.

The suspect told her that he had to see the victim for a massage.

The girl told the suspect that the woman had stopped offering massage since she was already bedridden.

However, the suspect proceeded to the victim's house.

The girl decided to check the hut since it took long for the suspect to go out.

"The girl saw how the suspect raped the victim," Taer said.

The witness reported the incident to her father, who also saw the crime.

The suspect fled but was arrested by police hours later at his house.

Taer said the woman died hours after she was raped.

LZB