A reported sexual assault has shocked the neighborhood Veguita de Galo in Santiago de Cuba, after a man granted a prison pass raped a young woman in broad daylight.
According to testimonies and a video published by journalist Yosmany Mayeta, the incident occurred when the alleged aggressor identified as Rafael (alias “Felo”), son of a well-known newspaper vendor in the area, intercepted the victim after following her from Street 11 in the mentioned neighborhood.
He brutally attacked her and, according to the young woman's statement, raped her. The girl managed to escape as best as she could down 15th Street, visibly beaten and dazed, until she found refuge in the home of a street vendor.
There, she was assisted by neighbors who immediately alerted her family.
Shortly after, police units arrived and took the aggressor into custody. During his arrest, Rafael claimed that the victim "was not a minor", a justification that caused outrage in the community.
It is also a case of recidivism, as the aggressor was serving a sentence for another act of rape and had been granted a prison leave.
That detail has sparked a wave of widespread rejection and raised questions about the judicial system and social reintegration policies.
"Those who violate should serve their time, without benefits or excuses!"
In the comments section of the post, dozens of internet users expressed their shock at the incident and their anger, as they do not understand how someone with a history of sexual offenses was able to roam freely on the streets without effective supervision.
“It can't be that these criminals roam the streets with parole passes. Anyone who violates the law should serve their time, without benefits or excuses!” declared a neighbor, shouting in frustration.
Another exclaimed, “The egg dog, even when his snout is burned, is still a danger.”
Demands for justice are accompanied by calls for urgent legal reforms.
The case has not only exposed the brutality of the crime but also the institutional fragility that allows such situations to recur.
The episode reveals the cracks in the prison control systems and calls into question the effectiveness of reintegration mechanisms for dangerous inmates, especially in a context of increasing public insecurity.
Additionally, the incident has brought to light the vulnerability of women and girls in unlit environments—there was a blackout at the time of the incident—without surveillance and without strong institutional responses to gender-based violence.
A collective cry of exasperation
Citizen comments gathered on social media reflect a state of opinion dominated by anger, fear, helplessness, and exhaustion.
The following are some of the most representative viewpoints of this widespread discomfort:
“Women, wake up. Instead of taking styling courses, you need to learn self-defense”; “The problem is that if you defend yourself, you end up in prison. The justice system is a disgrace”; “How badly we need a Bukele in Cuba, my God!”
"The country is rotten. They release rapists while political prisoners can't even see their families."
"This is no longer just in Santiago. It is all over Cuba, and the law protects no one."
"Here, criminals have privileges and the people have fear."
"Once a person commits a violation, they will do it again. That cannot be cured with a prison pass."
"What was a repeat offender doing walking free in the same neighborhood where he had already attacked before?"
"I request imprisonment without visits, without privileges, and without mercy for these disgusting individuals."
"It's a monstrous act. The poor girl is left marked forever."
Many voices agree that power outages, lack of patrolling and surveillance, and institutional neglect are breeding grounds for this type of crime.
There are also calls for self-defense: “Carry a needle and stick it in your jugular if necessary” or “keep a spray handy, even if it’s perfume, to blind them.”
"A political prisoner is buried alive, but a rapist is released on parole as if they were on vacation", was a recurring idea.
Unfortunately, this case is not an isolated incident but a serious symptom of a collapsed system in terms of prevention, justice, and protection for victims.
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