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LUCENA CITY – Two police officers in Bacoor City in Cavite province were arrested on Wednesday, March 22, on charges of sexual assault.
The Cavite police, in a belated report Thursday afternoon, March 23, identified the suspects as Corporal Bryan Santiago Baladjay and Master Sergeant Rey Mendoza Pogoso, both active members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and presently assigned at Imus City police station.
According to the report, the two cops joined a drinking session held by the victim, her boyfriend, and three others inside an apartment in Barangay Molino V at around 1 a.m.
After two hours of drinking, the victim was told by her boyfriend, also not identified in the report, to go upstairs and rest.
Afterward, the two policemen asked the boyfriend to buy liquor. After he left, the suspects went upstairs and started sexually molesting the victim, who was awakened from her sleep.
The report did not state if the other drinkers were still around during the sexual assault.
The victim managed to escape the two and ran downstairs.
The returning boyfriend noticed the commotion, successfully grabbed the victim, locked themselves inside the house and created noises to attract attention.
The village watchmen responded and coordinated with the local police station, which led to the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects’ service firearms, identification cards and badges were confiscated. They were also relieved from the Imus police station.
The corresponding criminal charges were filed against the suspects at the Bacoor City prosecution office around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The police will conduct a separate investigation and file an administrative case against the two officers for their possible dismissal from the service, the report said.
Cavite police chief, Colonel Christopher Olazo, said the PNP “takes allegations of this nature very seriously, and we hold our officers to the highest standards of conduct.”
“We understand that the community has placed its trust in us to serve and protect, and we are committed to maintaining that trust. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that our officers act in accordance with the law,” Olazo said in a statement.
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