MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ top cop Oscar Albayalde decried that it was “unfair” for a rights group to say that the “palit-puri” scheme is rampant within the Philippine National Police.
Albayalde was asked to react on a report quoting Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific which said that the scheme where sex is demanded by arresting officers in exchange for a suspect’s freedom “worsened” in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs.
READ: Women’s groups call for justice in alleged rape of drug suspects' teen daughter
But the police chief on Monday stressed that the case against PO1 Eduardo Valencia, who was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl whose parents were rounded up by police in a drug sting, is an isolated case.
Albayalde said: “There was never a single incident of that sort, yung sinasabi nyo nang ganun. There are probably sexual advancements pero ‘dun sa sinasabi nilang rampant, that’s too harsh to say."
He stressed that accusation against Valencia “does not reflect… the general behavior and discipline that we have in PNP.”
The parents of a victim sought the authorities after they learned that the rookie cop allegedly coerced their daughter for sex in exchange for their freedom. Police have detained and filed a rape case against Valencia.
Center for Women’s Resources has recently released data where they documented 33 cases of violence against women committed by policemen since the start of the Duterte administration.
A total of 56 cops were involved in such cases, which range from catcalling, acts of lasciviousness to rape
Of the 33 documented cases, 13 involved victims who are 17 years old and below. Almost half of the cases monitored (16) were on rape, while seven cases were on acts of lasciviousness.
Albayalde meanwhile assured that the police would show no mercy to Valencia if it would be proven that he was guilty of raping the minor.
READ: PNP: We are 'inclined' to believe that Manila cop raped 15-year-old girl
— Kristine Joy Patag