Gabriela warns vs whitewash in Benguet gang rape investigation

2 Baguio cops ‘involved’ in crime nabbed 

BAGUIO CITY – A congressional representative of party list Gabriela warned against “whitewash” of probe on two Baguio police officers who, along with others, allegedly repeatedly gang-raped a 26-year-old single mother they abducted in this tourist resort.   

“The involvement of the two police officers in the gang-rape of the mother should spur Congress to speed up amendments to the Anti-Rape Law or Republic Act 8353 that would impose greater culpability on persons in authority, said Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus.

She bared this after the reported arrest of four suspects, two of whom were Baguio cops who reportedly forcibly abducted the Baguio resident and took turns raping her in Itogon, Benguet on May 23 and several days afterwards.

The cops were not identified pending investigation while three of their co-accused were being hunted by Itogon police. 

De Jesus also appealed to Baguio police director Senior Supt. Rolando Miranda and other officers to stop issuing comments that tend to negate testimonies of complainants. 

"Mas mabuti naipatupad nang Benguet PNP office ang ginagawa nitong imbestigasyon at pag-aresto sa iba pang suspect kaysa magpasaring pa sa biktima. Ang  ganitong mga intriga ay may epektong pagpapatahimik at pananakot sa biktima at sa kanilang kapamilya. Dapat ding sumunod ang mga kagawad ng Baguio PNP sa standard procedures ng due process ng higher ups nito, at huwag unahin ang pagtatanggol ng kanilang kabaro,(It would do well for Benguet police  to hasten investigation and arrest the other suspects instead of  making snide remarks against the victim. This kind of intrigues only frightens the victim and her family. Baguio police should also follow standard procedures and due process and should refrain from protecting their peers," De Jesus said.

The Gabriela solon, who has years of experience in assisting victims face their assailants in court, said House Bill 812 that she and fellow solon Luz Ilagan filed in 2013 relieves victims from shouldering the burden of proof and shifts this to the accused.

“Ang Anti-Rape Law amendment na ay magtatakda bilang aggravating factor ang public or oral authority ng may sala.Bibigat ang parusa kapag ginamit ng perpetrator ang kanyang kapangyarihan, at rekurso at pasilidad ng kanyang opisina upang maisagawa ang krimen,” the Gabriela solon said.