2 in antidrug unit face rob, rape cases

SAN PEDRO CITY—Two members of the police antidrug team in Binangonan town in Rizal province are facing robbery and rape charges following a search in the house of a drug suspect’s girlfriend in the town last week.

Police Officers 2 Melanie Domingo and Rodel Payas, both of the Binangonan police, had gone into hiding, although they had denied the charges when they spoke on the phone with their commander, Supt. Noel Verzosa, on Monday.

On Tuesday, Binangonan police filed a case of robbery and slight physical injury against Domingo, while Payas was charged with raping Kaileen Villaran, 24.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Verzosa, the Binangonan police chief, said the assault happened on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. when Domingo and Payas went to Villaran’s house in Barangay Mahabang Parang for a search.

Verzosa said Villaran was not on the police watch list of illegal drug suspects, but she was accused of keeping drugs for her boyfriend, Harold Certesa. Verzosa described Certesa as a drug suspect known by his alias “Poging Baliktad.”

During the search, Domingo demanded that Villaran turn over drugs.

A police report said Domingo allegedly took Villaran’s wristwatch and cash. When Villaran failed to produce illegal drugs, Domingo punched her.

Another report from the Rizal police said Payas forced Villaran to come with him to a hotel where Villaran was raped. Villaran reported the assault to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the following day. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon