Pampanga cop facing rape charge ordered disarmed, placed under custody

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar in his Facebook live, orders a probe into P/SSgt Robin Manganga. Screenshot from Facebook / PNP livestream

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday ordered that a Pampanga policeman accuse of raping a female motorcycle rider be disarmed and placed under restrictive custody.

At the same time, Eleazar instructed the regional director of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) to provide protection to the complainant while the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) is conducting an investigation into case involving P/SSgt. Robin Manganga.

“Inatasan ko na ang IAS na pabilisin ang pag-iimbestiga sa kasong ito at intaasan ko na rin ang RD, PRO3 na bigyan ng kaukulang proteksyon ang nagrereklamo at ang kanyang pamilya, kasabay ang paglalagay sa involved na pulis under restrictive custody,” he said.

(I have already tasked the IAS to do its investigation of this case quickly, at the same time directing the regional director of PRO-3 to provide the proper protection to the complainant and her family, while placing the involved officer under restrictive custody.)

Based on the complaint, the suspect, then manning the checkpoint in Mabalacat, Pampanga, flagged the complainant for driving her motorcycle without a license last Friday, October 8.

The victim admitted that she forgot to carry her driver’s license. Instead of penalizing the victim for the infraction, the suspect, using his influence, allegedly sexually assaulted her. The complainant further claimed that her motorcycle was only released by the cop after she was raped.

Eleazar said that if proven that Manganga indeed abused the victim, criminal charges would be filed against him aside from being dismissed from the service.

“Kapag napatunayan na ginawa nga ni Police Staff Sgt. Robin Manganga ang kahalayang ito, tinitiyak ko na matatanggal siya sa serbisyo bukod sa kasong kriminal na kanyang haharapin,” Eleazar said.

(If proven that Police Staff Sgt. Robin Manganga really did this horrible act, I assure the public that he will be dismissed from the service aside from facing criminal charges.)

“Nakakalungkot at nakakagalit na sa kabila ng paulit-ulit nating babala at pagpapatupad ng reporma sa aming organisasyon, meron pa ring iilan na hayagang inaabuso ang kapangyarihan na ibinigay sa kanila ng taumbayan,” he added.

(It is both saddening and maddening that despite our repeated warnings and our campaign to reform our organization, we still hear reports of police officers abusing the power provided to them by the people.)

Eleazar however said that he would continue to work towards ridding the police force of rotten officers.

He also urged those victimized by police officers not to hesitate in filing charges against abusive PNP personnel

“But this will not discourage us in pursuing our reform program, but in fact, this serves as a motivation to continue our internal cleansing,” he explained.

“Huwag kayong matakot na sampahan ng kaukulang reklamo ang sinumang lumabag sa batas, kabilang ang mga pulis. Nakahanda ang PNP na tumulong sa inyo upang makamit ang hustisya at panagutin sinuman ang maysala,” he added.

(Do not be afraid to file charges and the appropriate complaints to anyone who would violate the law, including the police.  The PNP is prepared to help you to attain justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable.)

EDV