PNP: No mercy for cop in alleged rape case

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no mercy for the policeman who allegedly raped the 15-year-old daughter of a drug suspect, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Eduardo Valencia is already in custody and charges will be filed against him, Albayalde added.

“We will never cover it up. We will show no mercy. We said since the start of this administration that we will show no mercy to police officers who do illegal activities,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Albayalde questioned Valencia’s statement that rape is usually done by police operatives when drug suspects are arrested.

“How does he know that it is not new? He is just a PO1,” he said.

The Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday formalized the filing of rape charges against Valencia before the city prosecutor’s office.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Macerin, MPD directorial staff chief, said Valencia was transferred to the MPD women and children’s protection custodial facility.

Valencia, assigned to the MPD Station 4 drug enforcement unit, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, hours after the girl’s relatives sought the assistance of the city’s social welfare office.

Macerin said Valencia and his team went to the house of the girl’s stepfather and mother to serve a search warrant and arrested the couple.

The girl and a 20-year-old woman were taken for questioning but later released.

The girl told her relatives Valencia offered her a ride but brought her to a motel in Sta. Mesa, where he allegedly raped her and promised to help with her parents’ release.

Macerin said the girl’s medical examination indicated she was “abused.”

Valencia denied raping the girl but could not explain why he took her to the hotel.

In an interview in his cell at the MPD Station 4, Valencia insisted that surveillance footage at the police station would show the girl and the woman left the station on their own and he never followed them.

He said he will answer all charges in the proper forum, adding that the incident has ruined his life.

Macerin said the girl’s parents are still detained and face drug charges. The girl was brought to the city’s social welfare office, where she is receiving counseling. – With Rey Galupo