More administrative and criminal cases have been filed against the police major who allegedly sexually harassed a Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadet, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said on Friday.
The development came after two more cadets allegedly sexually harassed by the police major – a tactical officer in the academy whom both the PNP and Napolcom did not name – came forward.
‘They reported it to us last Sept. 16. I talked to them myself,’ Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said in Filipino in an interview with reporters at their Quezon City office on Friday.
‘We investigated it and the cases here in the National Police Commission, the admin cases, those were filed Oct. 15, if I’m not mistaken,’ he added. As for the criminal cases, only one of the two new victims filed a complaint for sexual harassment before the Silang, Cavite court against the police major, according to PNPA Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon in an interview Thursday night on DZMM.
While Dizon did not say when the supposed incidents of the two new cases took place, he said the police major allegedly took each of the three victims to his personal quarters and sexually harassed them there. ‘All of his victims had pending case before the PNPA. He offered to help them and those he approached really hoped for his assistance. That’s how he was able to do it.’
The first victim was allegedly sexually harassed early morning last July 31. He filed a complaint for acts of lasciviousness against the police major before the Silang-Amadeo Municipal Circuit Trial Court on Aug. 7.
The Napolcom formally charged the police major for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer last Aug. 22.
‘This incident is really isolated because we truly did not expect an officer to act this way,’ Dizon said. ‘All of those assigned here undergo vetting or a complete background investigation. This time, we tightened it in such a way that even their personal activities are being monitored,’ he added.