Woman raps SWAT man for rape attempt

An 18-year-old woman in Talisay City yesterday filed a complaint at the Ombudsman-Visayas against a member of Mandaue City's Special Weapons and Tactics for attempted rape, abuse of authority, and violation of RA 6713, or the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officers.

The woman, a native of Dipolog City who was on vacation in Talisay with her married sister Jovita Toyogan, narrated that in the afternoon of November 27 or 22 days since she arrived she was left alone in the house when the incident happened.

The man was a neighbor of her sister and she later came to know, through her brother-in-law, as Lino Diez, a SWAT member assigned in Mandaue City.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Diez barged into the house without her permission then told her he was attracted to her and would give her everything then marry her if she agreed.

The woman claimed she turned Diez down, and locked the doors at the sala and kitchen quickly after she succeeded in sending him out. But Diez allegedly did not leave the place and she even caught him allegedly peeping at her in the room of the second floor of the house.

Finally, Diez allegedly entered the sala and did not heed her order to go out. "Respondent held her two arms tightly...tried to kiss her, complainant pushed and kicked him."

While struggling against her assailant, her nephews, aged nine and 13-years-old entered, prompting Diez to free her and went out of the house quickly.

About an hour after the incident, her brother-in-law Edgar arrived and was informed of the incident. "I asked her if she knew the man, she replied that she did not know the name but she knew it was our neighbor."

Edgar, in his affidavit, continued, "We went outside and she pointed to the house of the respondent...I told her that the person is Police Officer Lino Diez, of SWAT in Mandaue Police Office."

Edgar added that his sister-in-law was "traumatized by the incident." -Liv G. Campo