Woman drops rape raps vs 2 rookie cops

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – A female police applicant who had accused two rookie policemen of sexually molesting her said yesterday she was no longer interested in pursuing the charges.

In a one-page affidavit of withdrawal, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR from her legal counsel, lawyer Benjamin Cuanan, the 22-year-old complainant said she and one of the policemen, PO1 Paul Untal, are “sweethearts” and that they are “getting married,” with the “wedding preparations being finalized by our parents.”

She earlier had accused Untal of rape, and the other policeman, P01 John Ripdos, of acts of lasciviousness.

The General Santos City police arrested Untal and Ripdos at their quarters at the Camp Fermin Lira here last May 20. 

The two are both assigned to the Regional Mobile Group and detailed as security escorts of Chief Superintendent Fidel Cimatu, Central Mindanao police director.

Director Jaime Tagaca, director-general of the PNP Internal Affairs Service, who arrived here Thursday to lead the investigation into the alleged rape, welcomed the woman’s decision to drop the charges.

But he said they will pursue the investigation “to determine the administrative liabilities of the suspects and to know why a private person was allowed entry at the compound of the regional director.”