Rape charges filed against SPD official

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed rape charges against a police colonel accused of sexually abusing a “model” inside the headquarters of Southern Police District (SPD) last month.

“We filed the case before the Taguig prosecutor’s office,” said lawyer Elfren Meneses, director of NBI- National Capital Region. 

The case against Superintendent Erwin Emelo, former head of Southern Police District’s special operations group (SOG), stemmed from the charges hurled against him by a nightclub model working in Pasay.

He was subpoenaed by the NBI to explain his side but the police colonel ignored the invitation. Instead, he sent a lawyer, who asked the bureau for more time to answer the charges.

SPD police officers raided the Miss Universe nightclub in Pasay City on Oct. 23 and rounded up 62 people who supposedly lacked working permits. 

Emelo’s accuser claimed that hours after the raid, the police colonel raped her in full view of other people.

Emelo was removed from his post after the model filed initial complaint with Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.