11 Cebu City cops relieved over robbery, extortion, rape complaints

Robbery, extortion, and grave coercion complaints have been filed against 11 cops in Cebu City, while one of them faces a rape complaint as well, following a supposed search operation that they conducted – without any warrant – in a woman’s home in Minglanilla town on March 9.

Central Visayas police chief Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo announced in a livestreamed press briefing on Tuesday, March 30, that the 11 policemen from Pasil Police Station 6 (Sawang Calero Police Station) under the Cebu City Police Station “were relieved from their posts after allegedly being involved in rape, extortion, and other criminal and administrative cases.”

The complaints were filed before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, March 30.

Montejo said that a 35-year-old woman filed a complaint with the  Integrity Monitoring and Enhancement Group Visayas Field Unit (IMEG-VFU) against the following:

• Police Corporal Georny Abrasado
• Police Corporal John Carl Aceron
• Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Alcoseba
• Police Staff Sergeant Michael Rhey Cabizares
• Police Staff Sergeant Celso Colita
• Police Chief Master Sergeant Eric Edgar Emia
• Police Corporal Ejill Ferrolino
• Police Corporal Carlo Irizari
• Police Corporal Rochelito Mabulay
• Police Corporal Emmanuel Martinez
• Police Corporal Junel Pedroza

Montejo said that according to the complainant, the cops led by Colita suddenly barged into her home in Minglanilla town on the night of March 9, claiming that they were conducting a search operation for firearms.

The cops did not present any search warrant and proceeded to search the home of the woman, who was told that she was suspected of being involved in “illegal drug trafficking.”

Citing the findings of the initial investigation on the operation, Montejo said no firearm was found in the victim’s home. Instead, the cops took valuables from the woman, including pieces of jewelry, a bag, and an ATM card.

She was brought to the police station past midnight, where she was illegally detained. She was brought to an ATM and was coerced to withdraw P170,000, which was extorted from her.

The complainant also alleged that after her arrest, Colita brought her to a motel and raped her. Colita has been charged with two counts of rape.

Ligan said that he relieved Pasil Police Station 6 chief Major Eduard Sanchez of his post for failing to supervise his personnel. Police Major Eraño Regidor has been designated as the officer-in-charge to give way to an impartial investigation of the case.

“Dili gyud naku ni i-tolerate. Kung mapamatud-an nga nakalapas sila sa balaod, atubangon nila kung unsa may angay nga ipahamtang nga silot sa ilang gibuhat,” said Montejo.

(I cannot tolerate this. If proven guilty of violating the law, they will face whatever appropriate consequences for their misdoing.) – Rappler.com