PNP relieves 15 cops in rape-robbery of Grade 9 student
The commander of a Philippine National Police antinarcotics team in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region and 14 of his officers have been relieved of their posts after a Grade 9 student complained she was raped and robbed following a supposed operation targeting her boyfriend.
The head of the Special Operations Unit of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) in Calabarzon and the 14 team members were not identified. A police report, however, listed them by rank: a colonel, a lieutenant, a master sergeant, five corporals and seven patrolmen.
Of the 14 team members, eight have been arrested while six more remain at large, although a PNP official said that four of them have indicated their willingness to give themselves up.
According to the police report, the victim, known only as “Nena,” said the robbery and rape happened in Bacoor City, Cavite, on Saturday.
“As an initial action, I relieved the commander … [and] the 14 personnel. They are all now under [the custody] of the PNP DEG administrative holding office,” PNP DEG director Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay said at a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday, adding that the team commander was relieved on the principle of command responsibility.
Buy-bust operation
According to Ragay, the 14 police officers, excluding their commander, had conducted an operation “covered by a target intel packet involving a personality in Bacoor.”
“But the buy-bust operation did not materialize. The target was able to escape and the complainant [in the rape case] is the girlfriend of the would-be subject of the buy-bust,” he said.
Ragay told reporters that the 15 police officers would be charged administratively in coordination with the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.
On top of this, the 14 team members are facing a possible rape complaint to be filed by Nena before the Bacoor City Prosecutor.
As for the victim, Ragay said she was under the custody and protection of the Bacoor City police.
Napolcom probe
In a statement on Monday, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said its own investigators were looking into the case.
It observed, however, that the buy-bust operation seemed to have been conducted illegally.
“Based on initial reports received by the commission, Napolcom noted that the alleged operation conducted by the officers had no coordination, no documented authorization, and no record of any legitimate police activity at the time,” it said.
“As part of its mandate, Napolcom is now preparing to file administrative charges should the ongoing investigation establish probable cause,” it added, saying the administrative cases may be for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
According to Napolcom, Nena was expected to file an administrative complaint against the police officers before the commission on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
