Police official charged with raping subordinates ordered arrested

DIGOS CITY, Philippines—The First Division of the Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of a former Davao del Sur police chief accused of rape and sexual harassment by four policewomen and the wives of two police officers.

The provincial police office received a copy of the warrant for the arrest of Senior Superintendent Cesario Darantinao only on Tuesday. It was signed by Sandiganbayan chair Efren de la Cruz on February 13.

Darantinao, a native of Biliran who has gone into hiding, has been accused of rape and a series of sexual advances committed while he was the provincial police chief here in 2008 to 2009.

Supt. Huberto Abadia, provincial police deputy director for administration, told the Inquirer that Darantinao, who was relieved from his post in July 2009, is nowhere to be found.

The municipal circuit trial court here earlier ordered the arrest of Darantinao in connection with a sexual abuse case filed against him by six women, four of whom are police officers.

One of the alleged victims was a 30-year-old policewoman who claimed that Darantinao molested her inside the provincial police chief’s quarters on April 26, 2008.

Another alleged victim, the wife of a police officer, said Darantinao also sexually abused her inside the same quarters. She said she found out about the ordeal of the other victims when she reported the abuse to the women’s and children’s desk of the city police.