2 cops cleared of kidnap, rape

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Two Baguio City policemen were cleared of rape charges after the complainant failed to identify them, the office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Benguet said Tuesday.

Deputy provincial prosecutor Andres Gondayao said the 26-year-old complainant failed to identify Senior Police Officer 3 Eugene Araos and SPO3 Alvaro Perez, both of the Baguio City police Station 3, as two of the nine men who allegedly seized and raped her in Barangay Tuding, Itogon town in May.

Gondayao ordered the filing of 10 counts of rape charges against the suspects identified as Kenmark Pinas, Jude Saydawan and five others.

In a resolution, Gondayao said the complainant failed to identify the police officers during a face-off at the DOJ.

The lawmen were accused of snatching the complainant at the Mines View Park on May 23.

The complainant said she was taken to Itogon, where the suspects made her a sex slave for days.