Cases vs 'detainee rape' cop to continue

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday the filing of administrative and criminal cases against a Manila policeman accused of raping a detainee will continue even if he is under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said his office would issue summons to PO3 Antonio Bautista Jr. for cases filed against him by his alleged victim, a vendor who was detained for vagrancy.

“He’s not yet off the hook. We will continue the administrative case against him,” he said.

Bautista went into hiding after he was accused of robbing and raping the vendor. He surrendered last Friday and was placed under the protective custody of the NBI on orders of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Bartolome pointed out that the Manila Police District (MPD) has already initiated the summary dismissal proceedings against Bautista, aside from the criminal cases to be filed against him.

“We have already communicated with the NBI and told them our intention to pursue the case against him,” he said.

Bautista was already “marked” absent without official leave by the MPD after he went into hiding when his alleged victim came out in the open and filed a complaint against him.

The 30-year-old vendor alleged that Bautista arrested her, then robbed and raped her in the MPD headquarters last Dec. 31.