Solon seeks arrest of WPD cops

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos sought yesterday the immediate arrest of officials of the Western Police District (WPD) in Manila for allegedly raping and injuring a 19-year-old detainee inside a police station.

In her privilege speech, Marcos expressed fears of a whitewash into the investigation of at least three policemen following the apparent reluctance of WPD chief Pedro Bulaong to file charges against the suspects. Marcos also called for a congressional investigation into the incident.

"I enjoin you my colleagues to investigate and prosecute at the earliest possible instance, the plight of this 19-year-old teenager from Leyte for even Manila’s Finest is exempt from the rule of law," Marcos said. "If those who have taken an oath of service, honor and justice can no longer be trusted, who are we to believe in?" she said.

She said the victim was first arrested in January for theft, although her family believed that she was picked up in lieu of the actual culprit who had disappeared. It was then she said the police began physically molesting, injuring and raping the girl, prompting her to escape.

On May 1, policemen from the Baseco compound found her and took her to the Bagong Lupa police detachment and held her there for 15 days without any charges being filed against her, even as the complainant was no longer to be found. During that time, Marcos said, police Inspector Arnulfo Malaluan, the detachment commander, SPO4 Anacleto Lapitan and PO2 Edgar Buludo allegedly raped her repeatedly and even had inmates also do the same. The lady solon said that even a friend who visited her upon learning of her plight was also detained.

Despite the promises of Bulaong to Interior Secretary Jose Lina and National Capital Region Police Office chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco to act on the case, none of the policemen have been presented nor disarmed.