CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (September 10) — The Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office (MORPPO) has relieved and detained a police officer accused of raping an underage girl, as the police command vowed to impose severe sanctions on personnel involved in sexual abuse.
MORPPO chief Col. Al Abanales said Wednesday that the police officer was relieved from duty and detained following an inquest proceeding.
“MORPPO is likewise undertaking the necessary administrative actions in accordance with existing PNP (Philippine National Police) rules and regulations,” Abanales said in a statement.
He said the police organization would not tolerate sexual violence among its personnel.
“There is no room for sexual violence in the police service,” Abanales said.
The case comes as the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) faces other allegations of sexual misconduct involving its personnel.
Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., PRO-10 director, said two counts of rape had been filed against two police trainees accused of sexually abusing a fellow trainee.
Separately, a police captain and a corporal assigned to the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office are being investigated over allegations of acts of lasciviousness involving a college intern.
Babagay said misconduct within the police ranks would be met with severe penalties, stressing that the regional police office was enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of abuse committed by its personnel.
The cases have placed renewed scrutiny on how the police organization handles allegations of sexual violence involving its own personnel, particularly when the alleged victims are minors, trainees or students.
