MANILA, Philippines — The commander of the Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group Calabarzon Special Operations Unit (PNP DEG 4A SOU) and 14 of his officers were relieved from their posts following the alleged robbery-rape of a Grade 9 student in Cavite.
The alleged robbery-rape involving the 14 officers and the victim identified only as “Nena” occurred in Barangay Talaba 3, Bacoor City last Saturday morning, according to a police report sent to reporters.
“As an initial action, I relieved the commander, I relieved the 14 personnel. They are all now under the admin holding office of PDEG… Ang ni-relieve natin is 15 to include the commander for command responsibility,” DEG Director Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday.
(As an initial action, I relieved the commander, I relieved the 14 personnel. They are all now under the admin holding office of PDEG… We relieved 15 to include the commander for command responsibility.)
“The operation was covered by yung target intel packet involving one personality na target sa Bacoor. However, hindi nag-materialize yung buy-bust operation, nakatakas [yung subject] at yung complainant [in the rape case] is the girlfriend of the would-be subject of the buy-bust,” Ragay added.
(The operation was covered by a target intel packet involving one personality who is the target in Bacoor. However, the buy-bust operation did not materialize, the subject escaped and the complainant in the rape case is the girlfriend of the would-be subject of the buy-bust.)
The PNP DEG director said the 15 officers will be facing an administrative case.
The police report further noted the 14 officers are awaiting a complaint for violation of Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law before the Bacoor City Prosecutor.
According to the police report, the 14 officers are a police colonel, a police lieutenant, a police master sergeant, five police corporals and seven patrolmen.
Eight of the suspects have been arrested and six others are at large, Ragay said, adding: “Four of them (at-large suspects) are sending feelers for possible voluntary surrender.”
Meanwhile, according to Ragay, the victim had been placed under the custody and protection of the Bacoor City Police Station.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Monday said it deployed its own investigators to look into the case.
“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,” Napolcom said.
“As part of its mandate, Napolcom is now preparing to file administrative charges should the ongoing investigation establish probable cause,” it added, noting the administrative cases may be for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Napolcom further said the victim, will file an administrative complaint before the commission tomorrow. /gsg