FOUR policemen, including the chief of police of Marikina City and a precinct commander, were relieved from duties over a sexual assault complaint filed by a female police officer against two fellow law enforcers.
The identities of both the victim and her two assailants were temporarily withheld pending completion of inquiry.
Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said a full investigation has been launched and punitive action would be taken against those found guilty.
“Rest assured that this will be taken care of. There will be an investigation. Actually, it has already been investigated,” Nartatez said.
Eastern Police District (EPD) director Brig. Gen. Aden Lagradante on Monday ordered the relief of Marikina City chief of police Col. Geoffrey Fernandez and the head of police Community Precinct-3 for possible negligence over the sexual assault charge.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, Lagradante said Fernandez was under investigation to determine if he was remiss in his official duties.
“We administratively relieved the chief of police of Marikina for the pending investigation. When we say he is under investigation, we’ll investigate if the chief of police is remiss in his function or of his duties in overseeing his personnel,” Lagradante told reporters.
He said the two officers’ substation commander was also administratively relieved.
He vowed that the probe would be extensive to cover the suspects’ colleagues, team leaders, chief supervisor, sector commander, station commander, and even the Women and Children Protection Desk.
“We are looking into possible deficiencies in how their team is managed, such as reports that the complainant or offended party was alone, which made it possible for her colleagues to approach and persuade her to join them,” said Lagradante.
Reports had it that two police officers with a rank of patrolman and a staff sergeant invited the complainant for coffee last Aug. 17 while she was on duty.
The complainant said she was molested inside the suspect’s patrol car while parked in Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina.
The two respondents, currently held at the EPD Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, face administrative and criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the complainant was provided with professional counselling and subjected to debriefing.
