Cops face rob, torture raps

CEBU, Philippines —  Another female complainant has come forward and accused policemen of the Sawang Calero Police Station in Cebu City of robbing and torturing her at the station on March 26, 2021.

The complainant, a businesswoman, went to the Integrity Monitoring and Enhancement Group Visayas Field Unit (IMEG-VFU) yesterday to formalize her complaint against six of the 11 cops accused earlier of robbery and rape.

The businesswoman said five cops with masks went to their house in Guadalupe on March 26, 2021 and asked for the whereabouts of someone she knows.

When she failed to provide information, reportedly because she has not heard of this person for quite some time, the five men allegedly opened their vault and took jewelry and phones. 

The complainant's husband who reportedly witnessed the incident said the cops told him they would bring his wife to the police station for interrogation in line with a case.

Alleged torture

The businesswoman said she was tortured in a room behind the station – the cops allegedly covered her face, handcuffed her to a chair, dipped her face in water, and even choked her, among other things.

"Ila kong gikuha, gidala ko nila sa station 6. Human ana, gidala ko nila sa luyo, naa man silay room didto nga gamay, nya gi-torture ko nila. Gi-hold ko nila for four days then naa koy mga pasa… ila kong gilumsan… ila kong gibutangan ug plastic bag," she said.

"Gitap-tapan nila akong nawong ug mask, gi-handcuff ko sa backrest sa chair then paghuman, gibutangan ko ug plastic, then gituok ko," she added.

She said they stopped torturing her only when she told them she is suffering from a heart ailment.

The cops allegedly kept her at the station for four days and served her only with bread and water.

Her husband said he tried to visit his wife but was not allowed to do so. He said his wife was not detained in the holding cell at the station.

The businesswoman said she was released eventually when the cops failed to charge her with anything but they allegedly warned her not to say anything.

"Gi-release ra ko nila kay wala man silay ma-charge nako... paggawas nako, ila ko giingnan nga dili ko ganahan makadungog og anything nga reklamo against namo, ha, kay gipagawas na baya ka namo… kahibaw na ka kung unsay mahitabo," she said.

She said she and her husband sought the help of the IMEG immediately after she was released.

Relieved

Earlier, at least 11 police personnel from the Sawang Calero Police station under the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were relieved from their posts for alleged extortion. One of them is facing a rape complaint.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Ronnie Montejo identified the accused as Police Staff Sergeant Celso Colita, Police Chief Master Sergeant Eric Edgar Emia, Police Corporal Rochelito Mabulay, Police Corporal Emmanuel Martinez, PSSg Joseph Alcoseba, PSSg Michael Rhey Cabizares, PCpl Ejill Ferrolino, PCpl Carlo Irizari, PCpl Junel Pedroza, PCpl John Carl Aceron, and PCpl Georny Abrasado.

IMEG-7 chief Alejandro Batobalonos said Colita is also among those tagged by the businesswoman in the torture and robbery charges.

"Naapil gihapon diri ilang team leader, si Pssg Colita, ang team leader sa SDEU (Station Drug Enforcement Unit)," Batobalonos said.

"Actually, ang na-identify niya ang four nga naa sa 11; naa pay duha nga naa karon sa Sawang Calero nga na-identify niya nga wala maapil sa 11, which is SDEU operatives pa rin," he added.

The first complainant has accused Colita of two counts of rape and robbery.

Incidentally, Batobalonos said, it was on the same day that the cops allegedly detained the businesswoman that the relief order for the 11 cops came out, stemming from the allegations of the first complainant.

The IMEG is in the process of finalizing the pieces of evidence gathered, including the medical certificate and CCTV footage from the victim's house.

Charges for robbery, arbitrary detention, torture, grave coercion, and grave threats will be filed against the cops.

Batobalonos encouraged other victims of the same group to come forward and seek the help of IMEG.

"Actually, we received several complaints against these personnel. Dili lang ka-usa, ka-duha, daghan kaayo mi’g report nga nadawat… amo na ni i-validate… nalipay kaayo mi nga naa gyuy complainant nga nibarog," Batobalonos said.

No statement on the part of the police has been released as of yesterday. — JMO (FREEMAN)