Bato orders probe on cops tagged in alleged gang rape

FILE: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa personally visited the Bulacan Police headquarters in Malolos, Bulacan Friday to supervise the ongoing investigation into three policemen accused of raping a 29-year-old woman.

Dela Rosa met with local police officials there, ordering the three officers assigned to the anti-drug unit of the Meycauyan Police to undergo testing for illegal substances at the PNP Crime Laboratory.

He likewise assigned the local National Police Commission – Internal Affairs Service (Napolcom-IAS) to launch an investigation into the allegation.

“Ito, I promise you. Pag ito ay totoo, huwag na kayo maghintay ng semana santo. Ipapako ko kayo sa krus (I promise you this. If this is true, then don’t wait for Holy Week. I will crucify you),” the PNP chief said, adding that if charges are untrue, he would insist that those involved initiate criminal charges against the accuser for slandering them.

“Kung ‘di naman ito totoo, ako mismo ang tutulong sa inyo. Kung sakali na ito ay isang demolition job, ‘di ako papayag na di kayo mag-file ng legal action. Ang kapalpakan niyo ay kapalpakan din namin (If this is proven to be a lie, I will help you. If this is a demolition job, I will not let you drop the chance to file legal action. Your sloppy work reflects on us), he told the policemen.

The information that the woman is reportedly a self-confessed drug user should not affect the investigation into the possible liability of the policemen, Dela Rosa said, adding that if the victim feels that the PNP would not take her accusation seriously, she may opt to bring the case to other agencies, such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In a televised report, the 29-year-old pregnant woman claimed that the three cops took turns to rape her inside a small house.

She also claimed that the policemen threatened to rape her young daughter if she would not cooperate.

Reports said the woman was collecting payment for her small loans business in a house in Barangay Bangkal in Meycauayan, Bulacan when a group of policemen conducting an anti-drug operation entered it.

She identified the policemen as PO2 Jefferson Landrito, P01 Marlo delos Santos, and PO1 Jeremy Aquino, all of whom denied the accusation.

Napolcom-IAS Bulacan Police lawyer Cristina Alcantara echoed dela Rosa’s call for the victim to substantiate her charges against the policemen.