QC cop accused of detainee rape has 3 other cases

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City policeman accused of raping a female detainee in a police station is facing three other administrative cases, police records show.

One of the cases against Police Officer 1 Rodrigo Bajog is grave misconduct for malversation of government property after he allegedly pawned his service firearm, according to records of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Superintendent Jesus Balingasa, head of the QCPD-District Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD), said Bajog is also facing another case of grave misconduct for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property after he allegedly ran away when a patrol car he was driving hit a privately owned vehicle.

In an interview yesterday, Balingasa also said there is another case against Bajog for having been absent without official leave (AWOL) in the past.

“All of these cases are in the hearing stage and are awaiting resolution,” he said.

Currently, Balingasa’s office is conducting a pre-charge investigation of Bajog, who is accused by a female detainee of allegedly raping her on the early morning of Feb. 22 in the QCPD-Station 12, where Bajog is assigned.

Bajog has again gone AWOL following the alleged rape. His superior, QCPD-Station 12 commander Superintendent Pedro Sanchez, said they have gone to the accused policeman’s house in Barangay Galas and talked with Bajog’s wife, who claimed the policeman has not gone home since the incident supposedly happened.

“We are convincing the wife to help us (contact Bajog and urge him to surrender),” Sanchez said in an interview.

Balingasa said since rape charges have already been filed against Bajog before the city prosecutors’ office, they are just waiting for an arrest warrant to be issued.

Balingasa said QCPD director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele has approved a pre-charge evaluation report on the alleged rape for consideration of Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome.

The QCPD-DIDMD is also investigating other Station 12 personnel – including the night watch officer, Chief Inspector Bernard Plan; the duty desk officer, Senior Police Officer 1 Antonio Turla; the duty investigator, Police Officer 2 Jerry Flores and the duty radio operator, Police Officer 2 Jaime Lomboy – if they could be held administratively liable.

But based on the incident report, Plan was not at the police station when the alleged rape happened.

According to the complainant, the alleged rape happened at past 1 a.m. on Feb. 22. It was at around 2 a.m. when the woman called the attention of Plan, who had just arrived from an inspection, and reported the purported rape. Based on the report, Plan ordered those on duty at the time to locate Bajog but the policeman had allegedly fled.

According to Sanchez, only the policeman assigned as the “jailer” should have the access to the key to the cell where the detainee was held. He did not name the policeman pending investigation.