A HOUSEMAID is accusing the chief of police of barangay Mabolo in Cebu City of humiliating and harassing her inside the police precinct.
The housemaid, 34, said that Chief Insp. Sarah Jane Recla admonished her after she agreed to settle amicably the case of her 14-year-old sister.
The housemaid’s sister was allegedly sexually harassed by Richard Tiva, a family driver and a friend of the housemaid.
The abuse allegedly happened at the house of the maid’s employer in Mabolo last Friday night.
Tiva was arrested and detained last Saturday night at the Mabolo police station.
Tiva was released last Monday afternoon. The man reportedly gave P70,000 to the housemaid as part of the settlement.
Tiva’s release surprised Recla.
An angry Recla asked the two sisters to appear at the police station.
There, Recla confronted the housemaid on why she agreed to settle the case.
The housemaid said Recla took her cell phone and P45,000 which was part of the P70,000 given to her by Tiva.
The housemaid said Recla forced her to kneel in front of her sister for 15 minutes to ask for forgiveness or she will be locked in jail.
Recla denied forcing the girl to kneel.
The police official said she just explained to the helper that shouldn’t have settled the case because of the gravity of the offense.
By accepting the money, Recla said it appeared that she tolerated the alleged abuse.
Recla said the P45,000 taken from the housemaid will be deposited under the account of the 14-year-old girl.
Recla said an investigation will also be conducted against PO1 Ardelene Palanas, SPO2 Jeffrey Larrobis and the jailer when Tiva was released.
Recla said as a station commander, the police officers should have informed her when Tiva was released.
The 14-year-old girl said it was PO1 Palanas who helped Tiva convince them to settle the case amicably.
Tiva was charged with acts of lasciviousness before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday.
The housemaid lodged her complaint against Recla yesterday at the Cebu City police office.
The accusations against Recla will be investigated further, said Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief Bonifacio Garciano./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON