Ombudsman OKs theft raps vs cop

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended that theft charges be filed before the Quezon City regional trial court against a police official.

Superintendent Rodrigo Bonifacio of the Traffic Management Group was accused by complainant Genevieve Winters of taking away money and luxury bags and jewelry.

The complaint stemmed from an incident in February 2007 when Winters was at her house in Tandang Sora, Quezon City with a certain Chief Inspector Medel Pone. She claimed Bonifacio and his men suddenly barged into the house and accosted them.

Bonifacio allegedly ordered his men to handcuff Pone without a warrant of arrest. Pone was allegedly dragged into the garage. Winters said Bonifacio took the keys of her Mitsubishi Montero from her table without her permission and sped off, bringing Pone with them.

The complainant said the vehicle was returned after more than three hours. But Winters alleged that P5,000, a Fendi bag, a Fendi wallet, a Kate Spade bag and jewelry she kept inside the vehicle were missing.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the respondent did not file his counter-affidavit.

The Office of the Ombudsman junked the charge of car theft because “respondent and his men appeared to have no intent to gain in driving away complainant’s vehicle as shown by their act of returning the same vehicle.” As to the charge of violation of domicile, the Ombudsman found it to have “no sufficient basis.”