Pregnant woman backs out of rape charge vs four Bulacan policemen

 

Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa holds a press conference on March 16, Friday. During the briefing, Dela Rosa said the woman who accused four Bulacan policemen of raping her has backed out of filing charges against them. Accompanying Dela Rosa during the press conference on Friday, March 16, were other PNP officials. /Mar Gabriel/Eagle News/

By Mar Gabriel
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The pregnant woman who accused four Bulacan policemen of raping her during an anti-drug operation in Meycauayan has backed out of filing charges against them.

“Ayoko na pong lumaban..Anoman ang mangyari sa amin, Ma’am, Sir, ipagpapasadiyos ko nalang,” she said in  a text message to the police.

The police read out the message in a press conference on Friday.

According to Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, the 29-year-old alleged victim also asked that the three of the four policemen placed under restrictive custody following her  allegations—P02  Jefferson Landrito, P01 Marlo delos Santos, and PO1 Jeremy Aquino—be released.

The policemen were restricted to headquarters  even if the alleged victim refused to formally file a complaint against them and refused to undergo a medico-legal examination.

But Dela Rosa said that even if the alleged victim was not interested in pursuing the charges, the policemen would still remain under restrictive custody.

He said the policemen would also be subjected to drug testing.

The woman’s statement came after Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, chief of the Bulacan police, revealed several witnesses—barangay officials and a Department of Justice (DOJ) representative who were part of the operation—belied her allegations.

“Kinukuha na namin ‘yung affidavit nila dito na pinapatunayan na walang nangyaring rape dahil pagkatapos ng drug operations ay sabay-sabay po silang nagpunta doon sa police station,” Caramat said in a radio interview.

The woman alleged she was collecting payment for “5-6” loans inside a house in Barangay Bangkal when the  crime took place.

She said she did not fight back for fear one of the policemen would rape her daughter, who was with her at that time.

According to Caramat, based on initial investigation, the victim had a case of illegal possession of drugs in 2015.