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Friday, March 29, 2024

Cop rapes cop: 3rd case in 2 weeks

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A policeman was raped by a fellow officer in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on Monday, a police spokesperson said Wednesday.

Supt. Imelda Tolentino, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-B identified the suspect as PO3 Jernie Languian Ramirez, 29, assistant instructor of the Maritime Trooper Course in which the victim, whose identity has been withheld, was a participant.

Tolentino said the rape took place inside the maritime law enforcement training center at Sitio Magarwak, Brgy. Sta Lourdes, Puerto Princesa between 2:30 am and 3:00 am Wednesday.

It was the third incident in a span of two weeks involving policemen accused of sexual assault.

At least three rookie policemen have been accused of rape in two separate incidents in Quezon City and Manila, in cases where they sought sexual favors from drug and gambling suspects.

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Metro Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar said charges were filed against PO1 Eduardo Valencia, accused of raping a 15-year-old daughter of a drug suspect; and PO1 Severino Montalban III and PO1 Jayson Portuguez for seeking sexual favors from suspects arrested for illegal gambling.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde vowed no mercy against errant policemen.

“We will never cover it up. We will show no mercy to police officer who do illegal activities,” he said.

In the Palawan incident, Tolentino reported that the victim and her companion were on duty as sentinels when Ramirez approached the victim and forced her to accompany him.

He then pushed her into a female comfort room and kissed her lips.

“He threatened the victim and brought her to a certain room at the 2nd floor of an old building, then took advantage of his superior strength and raped the victim,” Tolentino said in a spot report.

After an hour, the victim went to her assistant instructor and narrated her ordeal and eventually informed their course director.

The rape suspect was arrested by other assistant instructors and was turned over at police station-2 of the Puerto Princesa City Police office.

In the Senate, the committee on justice and human rights chaired by Senator Richard Gordon supported the creation of a special court that will handle cases of abuse involving police officers, in a bid to reform the Philippine Nation Police and better protect the public.

“The objective of the bill is to shine the spotlight of responsibility on the law in the matter of police cases involving violation of constitutional rights, as well as crimes perpetrated by police officers upon the public,” Gordon, who is the bill’s author and sponsor, said.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Loren Legarda are co-authors.

The bill, Gordon said, will mandate the creation of a special court to be designated as the Police Law Enforcement Court or ‘Police Court’ among existing regional trial courts (RTCs), which will have original exclusive jurisdiction “on all civil and criminal cases involving the abuse of authority of members of the PNP, whether in or off duty.”

The Police Court will particularly handle cases arising out of violations by a member of PNP of PNP operational procedures, rules of engagement and other protocols, as well as complaints for violation of constitutional rights involving police officers.

Gordon added that the Police Court would also have original jurisdiction on cases on the issuance of writ of habeas corpus “when there is evidence that the victim is held under the custody of any of the members of the PNP.”

The bill will also mandate the creation of an ‘Appellate Police Court’ among the divisions of the Court of Appeals that will tackle appeals coming from the Police Court.

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