Witnesses vs cop chief not harassed, say lawmen

At least 15 of the 21 policemen assigned at the Jalajala police station in Rizal rejected the claim of their relieved police chief that the witnesses in the sexual abuse case against him were “forced” to sign their affidavit of complaint.

Superintendent Ronaldo Mendoza, head of the investigation and detection management branch of the Rizal police, said the 15 policemen signed an affidavit stating that the witnesses against Senior Inspector Ian Rico Reyes gave statements on their own volition and without duress.

“Majority of the policemen in Jalajala town signed an affidavit stating that the witnesses were not forced to file a formal complaint against Reyes,” Mendoza said.

Because of the complaint that he allegedly sexually abused a male inmate, Reyes was ordered relieved by Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla.

Padilla installed Inspector Manuel Magat, former deputy chief of the Tanay police, as Reyes’ replacement.

A policeman, identified only as PO2 Sapungan, claimed that he appeared before Mendoza to deny that the complainants against Reyes were “harassed and intimidated.”

Aside from being accused of sexually molesting the inmate, Reyes was also accused by his former men of allegedly forcing arrested suspects to remove their clothes in his office and masterbate while watching a bold movie on a computer.

Last year, a policewoman also accused Reyes of acts of lasciviousness for allegedly touching her private parts.

Reyes is presently on floating status at the Rizal police headquarters in Taytay, Rizal.  He refused to return repeated calls.