Policeman faces raps for "sexual advances"

CEBU, Philippines - A police official accused of making sexual advances against two female detainees in Argao was indicted before the court for violation of the Revised Penal Code.

The Office of the Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices filed the criminal case in court for violation of the Article 245 of the Revised Penal Code against Senior Insp. Crisanto Duque.

The indictment papers were endorsed by the anti-graft office before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for the formal filing of the information in court. In the two-page resolution, the military ombudsman found probable cause to indict Duque for alleged sexual advances against Erlinda Lopez and Rosalie Camia three years ago.

Duque was then the chief of police in Argao and the complainants were detainees.

According to the complainants, on February 12, 2007 at about 10 p.m. they were instructed by Duque to massage his body. They were inside Duque’s office and the latter was only wearing his underwear. After the massage they were given P100 for the service rendered.

On February 14, 2007 at 10 a.m. they were again instructed to massage Duque who was again wearing just underwear.

However, during the process Duque allegedly exposed his private parts and asked both complainants to massage it. It was only Lopez who obliged the order while Camia refused to do it.

The complainants said they were forced to do what they have been told because of fear considering that the accused was the chief of police in the station where they are detained. Camia later executed an affidavit of desistance.

Duque denied the allegations claiming these were all “concocted lies, fabricated, malicious and perjurious.”

According to Duque, he never allowed detention prisoners to be brought outside the detention cell without court orders. Duque claimed that the complainants were only instigated by two of his subordinates against whom he had filed administrative charges.

The military ombudsman, despite the desistance of Camia, still found sufficient basis to charge Duque for two counts of the case against chastity, and it is very easy to obtain one through the employment of force and intimidation upon the complainants.  — Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)