2 MPD cops face raps for rape suspect’s torture

MANILA, Philippines - Two police officers from the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 4 were charged yesterday for allegedly torturing a rape suspect in the station last Sunday.

Police Officer 2 Roestrell Ocampo and Christine Blessy Declaro, reportedly lovers, were charged with violating Article 235 of the Revised Penal Code, maltreating a prisoner, before the city prosecutor’s office.

According to PO3 Jay Jacob of the MPD’s General Assignment Section, the two police officers did not appear during a confrontation with rape suspect Jaime Gaviola, 55, and his family, forcing them to file the case.

Gaviola’s brother, German, a 59-year-old printing press operator, said Gaviola was reportedly beaten up by the two police officers at around 6 p.m. Sunday after he was arrested and brought to the Ospital ng Sampaloc for medical examination.

Ocampo allegedly threatened to hurt Gaviola severely because “you will charge us anyway.”

 â€œWe don’t care about the victim’s rape case. What we are investigating is the maltreatment case brought to us by the brother of Gaviola,” Jacob said.

Station commander Superintendent James Afalla told The STAR that Ocampo and Declaro “are now restricted at the station and being investigated also by the MPD’s Pre-Charge Evaluation Section.”