Cops also want probe on Brigada anchors

CEBU, Philippines — The Dumanjug Municipal Police Station plans to conduct a probe into the interview by two local radio broadcasters of a minor rape victim which was broadcast live on-air and went viral in social media.

The police station said in a press statement yesterday that the interview, conducted by Brigada News FM Cebu and anchored by Atty. Juril Patiño and Dennes Tabar, was not done with their consent or approval.

In a conference call, Police Captain Jan Ace Elcid Layug, officer-in-charge of Dumanjug Municipal Police Station, told reporters yesterday that the interview was conducted at the victim’s residence and not at the police station in Dumanjug.

“Ang interview is nahitabo dili diri sa police station. Didto g’yud sa ilahang residence. Gi-adto sila didto sa field reporter,” said Layug.

He added that if proven that the interview was done without the presence of a social worker or a Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) officer at the police station, the broadcasters could have violated the law.

“Kung mao na atong basehan, we could say nga nakalapas kay wala may presence sa MSWD (Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office) katong gi-interview siya sa balay,” he said.

The press statement further said that while the alleged rape happened on March 8, it was only discovered by the mother of the child on March 10.

It continued that when the mother learned about what happened, she consulted a media personality whom she knew and sought advice before reporting the incident to the police station later in the evening of March 10.

On March 11, Dumanjug WCPD interviewed the child in the presence of her mother, aunt, and teacher, for the preparation of the affidavit of complaint and other documents. They were reminded of the confidential nature of the case by the WCPD investigator.

The statement went on to say that after that interview they were referred for a medical and psychological examination at the Pink Room of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

It turns out that the Brigada interview wasn’t the victim’s only interview released in social media.

During the police interview, the aunt of the victim discreetly took a video without the consent of the police and sent it to the victim’s older sister, who posted it in social media. The said video has already been taken down.

On the morning of March 13, a field reporter from a local radio station in Cebu City went to the residence of the victim and facilitated the interview conducted by news anchors Patiño and Tabar.

Only after the radio interview did the victim and her mother go back to the Dumanjug Municipal Police Station to turn over the medical and psychological results, according to the press statement.

The police reminded the victim’s mother not to entertain interviews with the media about the incident and to keep its confidentiality.

Layug said that they have yet to consult higher headquarters for the filing of appropriate charges against the persons involved in the posting of the video and the conduct of the interview.

“The Dumanjug MPS recommends to the higher headquarters the filing of appropriate complaints, if evidence warrants, to the persons involved in the posting of the video and the conduct of interview in view of the Best Interest of the Child under RA 7610,” the press statement also read.

Meanwhile, a formal criminal complaint for sexual abuse against the identified suspect who allegedly raped the child has already been forwarded to the Department of Justice. — (FREEMAN)