11 cops face extortion, rape plaints

CEBU, Philippines — Eleven police officers from the Sawang Calero Police Station (Police Station 6) were slapped with rape and robbery (extortion) charges.

The accused are Police Staff Sergeant Celso Colita, Police Chief Master Sergeant Eric Edgar Emia, Police Corporal Rochelito Mabulay, Police Corporal Emmanuel Martinez, Police Staff Sergeant (PSSg) Joseph Alcoseba, PSSg Michael Rhey Cabizares, Police Corporal (PCpl) Ejill Ferrolino, PCpl Carlo Irizari, PCpl Junel Pedroza, PCpl John Carl Aceron and PCpl Georny Abrasado.

The criminal charges for robbery, which stemmed from the complaints filed by a 35-year-old woman whose identity was withheld by authorities, were already filed against the cops before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Arbitrary detention, grave coercion, grave threats and torture were also filed against the cops.

The cops, who were also relieved from their post, are now in the holding area of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 for the filing of appropriate administrative charges.

They will also be subjected to a drug test.

Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo, Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director, said the woman accused the cops of stealing valuables from her house in Tungkil, Minglanilla town, Cebu when they conducted a search operation for firearms.

The woman said no search warrant or any document was presented or given to her to back the operation. She went to the Integrity Monitoring and Enhancement Group Visayas Field Unit (IMEG-VFU) and filed the complaints.

“Upon search, no firearm was found. Instead said operatives took valuables—pieces of jewelry, a bag, and an ATM card— and money from her," said Montejo.

The woman was brought to Sawang Calero Police Station and was “illegally detained” at around 1 a.m. on March 10, 2021.

Based on her complaint, she claimed that Colita brought her to a bank and ordered her to withdraw P170,000. She was then brought to a hotel in the city where she was “raped twice.”

Montejo said he will not tolerate such criminal acts committed by men in uniform. He said, though, that it was an isolated case.

“Nasagmuyo ko sa nahitabo labi na nga may kalambigitan ang akong mga kauban sa buhat. Dili gyud naku ni i-tolerate kung mapamatud-an nga nakalapas sila sa balaod. Atubangon nila kun unsa may angay nga ipahamtang nga silot sa ilang gibuhat," Montejo said in yesterday’s press conference.

He also called on the policemen to uphold the core values of the Philippine National Police.

"Akong dakong hagit sa mga kapulisan dinhe sa Central Visayas, isip kita man ang ihimplo sa katawhan, atong ipakita ang tinud-anay nga serbisyo sa Philippine National Police nga Maka-Diyos, Makabayan, Makatao ug Makakalikasan ug gani atong isakripisyo ang usa nato nga kinabuhi alang sa kaayuhan sa tanan,” he said.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, Colonel Josefino Ligan, for his part, said the station commander of Sawang Calero Police Station was already relieved and will be investigated for possible lapses.

"Right now naa sya sa city holding area nato sa CCPO waiting while the Investigation is ongoing," he said.

Station 6 is under the CCPO.

Police Major Eraño Regidor was appointed as officer-in-charge of the station. The appointment took effect last Saturday. — KQD (FREEMAN)