The chief of the Philippine National Police’s Custodial Service Unit was placed under restrictive custody after he was charged for sexually assaulting former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, who is detained at the facility.
PNP spokesman Ysmael Yu said Friday Lt. Col. Jigger Noceda had been charged with rape, acts of lasciviousness, unjust vexation and violation of the Safe Spaces Act filed by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center based on the affidavit submitted by Parojinog.
Yu made his statement even as the Commission on Human Rights on Friday questioned the arrest of a female Grab driver who was allegedly assaulted by a police officer in Taguig City.
“The CHR is deeply concerned with the manner of arrest and alleged assault by a police officer on a female Grab driver in Taguig City last Tuesday, 06 October 2020,” lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
“The Commission will look into the possible misconduct of the police officer identified as Captain Ronald Saquilayan, and investigate if there was a disregard of the due process of law as claimed by the victim in the video circulating online.”
The incident took place at 10 p.m. on Tuesday in the pickup/drop off area of a coffee shop along Cayetano Boulevard in Barangay Ususan.
The charges against Noceda were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday.
“He will be administratively held and inquired. The Chief of the PNP strongly stresses that this act is not a virtue of police being responsible, respected, and disciplined. It will be dealt with accordingly,” Yu said.
Parojinog was detained at the PNP Custodial Center, which is managed by Noceda, on drug and illegal possession of firearms charges following the raid by the police at their residence in July 2017.
Her father, then Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and at least 14 others, were killed during the raid.
Based on her three-page affidavit, Parojinog said she was sexually assaulted by Noceda on June 9 and Sept. 7.
She said on June 9, Noceda called her to his office after she asked, through a letter, when they would be allowed to accept visitors since the government had relaxed its anti-coronavirus disease protocols.
Parojinog said the official informed her that they could accept visitors, and in fact her daughter was already waiting for her in the visiting area.
However, she said, before she stepped out of the office Noceda asked if they could take a “selfie.”
She said Noceda then pushed her against a wall and kissed her.
Parojinog said she was shocked and immediately walked out of the room.
She went on to see her daughter, told her what happened, and instructed her to immediately call for their lawyers.
On Sept. 7, Parojinog said she again requested to talk to Noceda about any possible court orders that she should be aware of.
When she stood up and was about to leave after their discussion, she said Noceda also stood up and again pushed her to the wall and touched her private parts.
She said Noceda told her that no one would listen to her even if she screamed for help, nor would he be fired even if she filed a complaint.
Parojinog said the official also asked her if she could still get pregnant.
She was able to free herself from Noceda by telling him that someone could see them through the windows.
Parojinog said she reported the incidents to PNP officials, which prompted an investigation.
She said on Sept. 26, Noceda pleaded for her to retract her complaint and promised he would not let them see each other again and the official apologized for what he did.
