Eleazar orders probe into alleged rape of quarantine violator by police

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar has ordered an investigation into the the alleged rape of a female quarantine violator by a policeman and a civilian on Friday morning, August 27, in Mariveles, Bataan. 

A PNP report said that the accused police officer was 25-year-old Pat Elmer Tuazon Jr., who was assigned to the second provincial mobile force company in Lamao, Limay, and detailed at the quarantine control point (QCP) in Barangay Batangas 2 in Mariveles, Bataan. 

The civilian was a certain Armando Dimaculangan, 53, who was an active member of the Public Safety Office. He was designated marshal team leader of the QCP at Barangay Batangas 2. 

“Kaagad kong inatasan ang regional director ng Police Regional Office 3, Police Brigadier General Val de Leon, na magsagawa ng imbestigasyon upang malaman natin ang buong katotohanan tungkol dito,” Eleazar said in a statement Saturday, August 28.

(I immediately asked the regional director of Police Regional Office 3, Police Brigadier General Val de Leon, to conduct an investigation in order to know the whole truth about the incident.)

Citing an initial report, Eleazar said that the two accosted the victim at the QCP for violating quarantine rules. Eleazar said the victim was then taken to the policeman’s boarding house where she was molested by the two men.

The two were arrested, and the police have filed a complaint of rape by sexual assault. An inquest, a proceeding done by prosecutors for warrantless arrests, was conducted on August 28, but it was unclear what the resolution was.

In his statement, Eleazar said there is no room in the PNP for policemen who use their power to abuse and take advantage of other people.

“Makakaasa ang ating taumbayan na tututukan ko ang kasong ito at kung lumabas sa imbestigasyon na totoo ang akusasyon, tinitiyak ko sa inyo na hindi lang matatanggal sa serbisyo ang pulis na ito dahil sasampahan din natin siya ng patong-patong na kaso,” he added.

(I assure the public that I will focus on this case. If an investigation finds that the accusation is true, I guarantee that this policeman will not only be removed from service; several cases will also be filed against him.) –Vernise Tantuco/Rappler.com