Manhunt on for Manila cop tagged in alleged rape of detainee

MANILA, Philippines –  Police tracker teams were sent to the provinces yesterday to hunt down a Manila Police District policeman who allegedly raped and robbed a woman detainee in the MPD headquarters.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla ordered summary dismissal proceedings against Police Officer 3 Antonio Bautista Jr., detailed at the MPD’s intelligence section, who reportedly had gone into hiding.

 “Flight is an admission of guilt. Therefore he should not avail of the due process of law. We will strike his name from the police roster,” he said.

According to Superintendent Nelson Yabut, chief of the District Public Safety Battalion, he formed police tracker teams to hunt down Bautista upon the instructions of National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Nicanor Bartolome.

“The latest information we have is that Bautista is hiding in Cebu. I am presently coordinating with Cebu police officials for his capture,” Yabut said.

Bautista reportedly broke the glass jalousies of the Integrity Task Force office to open the locked door and rape one of the women detainees he had arrested for vagrancy. He also allegedly took P4,000 from the woman.

Charges of rape and robbery have been filed against Bautista at the Manila prosecutors’ office after the victim decided to pursue her complaint. The victim had earlier wanted to file charges before the National Bureau of Investigation, but changed her mind after MPD officials assured her that the case will not be whitewashed.

Administrative charges of conduct unbecoming of a police officer and grave misconduct were also filed by the MPD against Bautista.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero reiterated his call to decriminalize vagrancy since the anti-vagrancy law is being used to take advantage of people who cannot stand up for themselves. – Nestor Etolle, Marvin Sy