Manhunt on for Manila cop in detainee rape

Manila, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) launched yesterday a manhunt for a policeman accused of raping a vendor in the Manila Police District headquarters on Dec. 31, 2010.

NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome dispatched three police teams to the provinces to arrest Police Officer 3 Antonio Bautista Jr., who surrendered to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier this year.

He was released days later because he has not yet been charged in court at the time of his surrender, De Lima said.

Bartolome launched the manhunt after Judge Marivic Balisi Umali of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 issued a warrant for Bautista’s arrest on March 30 and recommended that no bail be granted the policeman.

Superintendent Remus Bautista, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit, said the police teams were dispatched after they did not find Bautista at his listed address on Talundon street in Pandacan, Manila.

Bautista’s alleged victim is in Bartolome’s custody in the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.