A police major is in hot water after allegedly ordering a PNP Academy cadet to perform oral sex on him last month.
The official is now facing an administrative investigation by the National Police Commission, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vincente Calinisan said in a press briefing yesterday.
Calinisan said the male officer may be dismissed from the police service if found guilty of sexually abusing the male cadet.
Calinisan said the Napolcom launched a motu proprio investigation after learning of the incident, which occurred last July 31 at the PNP Academy (PNPA) in Cavite.
The officer reportedly made the cadet drink alcohol, leaving him intoxicated, which led to the sexual abuse.
Citing initial information from the PNP, Calinisan said the officer was arrested and now faces a case of acts of lasciviousness before a court.
Calinisan, however, said it was a clear case of rape.
“If I were to view it differently, I think the better nomenclature is rape. So I am not so sure why it is denominated as acts of lasciviousness because I think the law is clear. This is a clear rape case,” said Calinisan.
Calinisan said the administrative investigation against the officer is being conducted by the Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service.
“He is now facing an administrative investigation by the Napolcom. For sure, Napolcom will not sit down and just watch. We will investigate,” said Calinisan.
“This is a motu proprio investigation. This has a big impact (to the PNP) so we really need to get our hands dirty and investigate ourselves. I am expecting a report very, very soon,” added Calinisan.
Calinisan said such acts should not be tolerated because the PNP has the mandate to serve and protect the people.
“If our policemen are involved in these types of acts, then we have a very big problem and secondly, this is the PNPA,” said Calinisan.
He urged the victim to pursue the case, noting that “we need to weed out bad eggs from the service.”
“Rest assured that the Napolcom is watching, waiting and we will be listening to him and we will do anything and everything necessary to give justice to the victim,” said Calinisan.
In a statement, the PNPA said it will not tolerate the acts of the officer.
“The perpetrator is now under the full custody of the law,” the PNPA said in a statement.
“A criminal complaint has been filed before the appropriate prosecution office, and an administrative case will be filed by the Philippine National Police Academy against the said personnel,” it added.
The PNPA said it is taking “decisive steps” to strengthen its internal mechanisms following the incident.
This, it said, includes the “tightening of vetting procedures for all personnel assigned to PNPA.”
“Rest assured, this is an isolated incident, and the institution does not—and will never—condone such acts,” it said.
It appealed to the public to protect the privacy of the cadet, who it said is receiving “psychological support.”
