DOJ vows speedy probe of gang-rape of volunteer nurse

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima vowed yesterday to expedite the investigation of the gang rape of a 21-year-old volunteer nurse in South Upi, Maguindanao last month.

She gave the assurance before presiding over a case conference in Cotabato City with local officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and prosecutors handling the investigation of the case.

“I was directed by the President to monitor closely the investigation. I will personally monitor this case, she told reporters before flying to Cotabato.

She assured the family of the victim that there would be no whitewash amid allegations that some elected local officials are being implicated in the crime.

The government would punish only the guilty, she said.

Malacañang said yesterday President Aquino ordered De Lima to personally monitor developments on the case.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said this would show Aquino’s concern over the case in the face of earlier claims by the Philippine Nurses Association that the administration was giving it a “cold shoulder treatment.”

“President Aquino asked Secretary De Lima, who in fact is in Cotabato right now, to discuss the case with the NBI, the PNP and state prosecutors,” Lacierda said.

When the nurses held a rally at Mendiola, he said, the President was in Tagaytay but the letter from the nurses’ association was received and that Presidential Communications and Strategic Development Secretary Ricky Carandang met with the nurses that day.

“It is not true that we are not giving the gang rape case the attention due it. In fact, the President has personally tasked Secretary de Lima to monitor the case. These things are not taken for granted since rape is a heinous crime,” Lacierda said.

De Lima also chided PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo for claiming that the case is solved after one of the suspects surrendered to authorities and confessed to the crime.

She said it is possible the suspect who admitted to the crime is a fall guy and part of a ploy to confuse investigators.

“We should take these developments with a grain of salt. We should take a second look at the legitimacy of the witness because initially six were implicated in the incident, she warned.

She added that Bacalzo should not be making conclusions, referring to his claim that the case is already 100 percent solved.

“General Bacalzo should go slow in issuing statements. It will not be good if we prosecute the wrong guy and set free the guilty ones, she appealed.

De Lima said the NBI is conducting a parallel investigation on the incident.

“I ordered the NBI regional office to coordinate with the local PNP-CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) to dig deeper into the case. I ordered the NBI to help to find and arrest the remaining suspects, she told reporters.

De Lima said she specifically directed the NBI regional office in Maguindanao to look into the involvement of members of an influential clan in the province.

Police have filed rape charges against the arrested suspect before the office of Prosecutor Akdal Balt.

Reports revealed the victim was seen with the suspects inside a videoke bar in Barangay Timanan, just few meters away from a police outpost.

Passersby found the victim unconscious last Sunday morning at a cornfield in Barangay Timanan.

De Lima said the justice department would see to it that the correct persons would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law.

“We want the closure to this case done swiftly, but correctly, so that only the real culprits will be penalized for the offense,De Lima told reporters.

De Lima said the NBI and the PNP CIDG would pursue the investigation until the real suspects are arrested and prosecuted for the gang rape.

She said the investigation would not end with the surrender of self-confessed suspect Melchor Fulgencio, 52.

De Lima said she is convinced there is a deeper angle to the case.

She said operatives of the NBI office in Region 12 and the CIDG in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao still have to interview more people that can shed light on the case.

De Lima ordered investigators to continue with their questioning of the six suspects arrested ahead of Fulgencio to determine if they are indeed liable. – With John Unson