Court orders cop in sex case held

DIGOS CITY—The municipal circuit trial court here ordered the arrest of former Davao del Sur police director Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao in connection with the sexual abuse case filed against him by at least six women—four of whom are police officers.

The warrant, issued by Presiding Judge Norma Ruste-Calatrava on July 29, a copy of which was obtained by Inquirer on Monday, asked authorities to present Darantinao to the court to answer the allegations contained in criminal case No. 97 for acts of lasciviousness.

The charges against Darantinao were made by the six women in July 2009.

One of them, a 30-year-old policewoman, said in a signed affidavit that the then provincial police chief molested her inside the provincial police director’s quarters on April 26, 2008.

The policewoman said Darantinao forced her to drink beer.

Another alleged victim, wife of a police officer, said Darantinao also sexually abused her inside the police director’s quarters.

She said she learned about the ordeal of the other victims when she reported the abuse to the women’s and children’s desk of the city police.

“Unexpectedly, I learned that there were policewomen who were also complaining of sexual advances, harassment against Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao,” she said.

Darantinao was immediately replaced in 2009 by Senior Supt. Ronald dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa was replaced by  Senior Supt. Vladimir Custer Kahulugan. Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao