Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Bartolome to help MPD resolve Bautista case

by Itchie G. Cabayan
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 19:56

WAYS are being ironed out by Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director, Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, to ease the burden of electrical consumption bills on the part of the police and hasten the proceedings against the Manila policeman who was accused of raping a vendor right inside the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters recently.

During a courtesy call to the mayor at city hall, Bartolome was accompanied by MPD director, Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, deputy chief, Senior Supt. Alex Gutierrez, and was welcomed by Lim himself, along with his key officials, secretary to the mayor Atty. Rafaelito Garayblas, chief of staff and media bureau chief Ric de Guzman and mayor’s complaint and action team director, Col. (ret.) Franklin Gacutan.

In the meeting, the officials present tackled the peace and order situation in the city and the ongoing manhunt for PO3 Antonio Bautista, who is yet to surface after he was accused of rape by a 30-year-old vendor, who is now in the custody of the NCRPO.

Lim was disappointed that Bautista has neither been located nor given up voluntarily to defend himself against the charged being levelled against him, to the detriment of the entire MPD force whose name was tarnished by the controversy.

The mayor said that the proceedings for the administrative case and summary dismissal against Bautista should be acted on swiftly.

Bartolome also sought the opinion of Lim on the possibility of asking the neighboring barangays’ assistance in shouldering the cost of power bills in police stations covering their areas.

Lim raised the possibility of seeking the help of big establishments covered by the police stations “as part of their corporate social responsibility.”

Lim told Bartolome to call the barangay chairmen concerned for a meeting so they can discuss the issue thoroughly and get the necessary consensus on the matter.

More sleepless nights in store for ‘Jasmine;’ cop still missing

Inquirer Headlines / Metro
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20110112-314108/More-sleepless-nights-in-store-for-Jasmine-cop-still-missing

By Miko Morelos

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: January 12, 2011


MANILA, Philippines—Since her harrowing ordeal on New Year’s Eve, allegedly in the hands of a Manila police officer who is now the object of a manhunt, “Jasmine” (not her real name) feels the need to be awake all the time.

She fears that if she falls asleep, she would not know what might happen to her next.

“I‘d never know what hit me. I still fear for myself,” she told the Inquirer in an interview at a safe house where a round-the-clock security detail was sent to keep watch over her by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which has kept her in their custody.

Jasmine was allegedly raped by PO3 Antonio Bautista Jr. on December 31 last year inside the Manila Police District headquarters. He is also accused of taking P4,000 from the victim.

The officer has been missing since the incident, and the Manila Police District (MPD) and the city government are turning to the public to help locate him.

“We encourage the public to give us any information they may have on his whereabouts,” said MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rong.

Also under the custody of the NCRPO is the victim’s live-in partner “John,” who has brought Jasmine’s case to the attention of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda Acosta on Wednesday. The Office will represent Jasmine in the legal proceedings, the Inquirer learned.

Life has been tough for the Cebuano couple who make a living by hawking a variety of items from hand towels to leather belts and fruits in Manila. Her ordeal only made things worse, Jasmine said.

She cannot walk at length after undergoing surgery earlier. In May, she lost her third child after an ectopic pregnancy. The couple’s two children live in Cebu.

For her safety, she has been restricted to quarters until authorities track down and arrest Bautista.

“On the average, I sleep for two hours in the night. Sudden movements rouse me from sleep,” she said.

She lies awake in her room most of the day, watching television or listening to music, but she pointed out that these do not keep her at peace with herself.

“Bautista might send someone to harm me,” she said matter-of-factly.

Police Director Nicanor Bartolome said he sympathized with the victim.

“I understand the ordeal that she went through, that’s why I have ordered our personnel to schedule counseling sessions to help her overcome the trauma,” Bartolome said.

The NCRPO likewise provided John with some capital and a wooden pushcart so he could restore some sense of normalcy in their lives, the official said. “They asked us for this because they did not want to depend too much on what we were providing them,” the NCRPO chief continued.

The MPD has filed grave misconduct charges against Bautista, said MPD Director Chief Supt. Robearto Rongavilla, who admitted that the policeman’s actuations have tainted the image of the city’s police force, often referred to as Manila’s Finest.

Tracker teams have been dispatched to Manila, Quezon City and the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite in search of the suspect. With a report from Jaymee Gamil

PNP provides NCRPO with brand-new pistols, armed vests and Kevlar helmets

By U.S. News Agency / Asian

Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the National Capital region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday received brand-new pistols, armed vests and Kevlar helmets from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

NCRPO Director Nicanor Bartolome led the turn-over ceremony Wednesday at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City, along with the district directors of the Eastern, Southern, Northern and Quezon City police districts and the SWAT units of the NCRPO’s Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Among the equipment given to the SWAT were 440 units of 9-mm Glock pistols, 379 armored ballistic vests and 337 Kevlar helmets.

Bartolome said the equipment, which came from the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, will be a big boost to the capability of the SWAT units.

“It is important that our SWAT units get the proper equipment, but it is more important that the members have the proper skills, attitude and disposition,” he said.

Members of the Manila police SWAT were roundly criticized after last year’s hostage crisis at the Quirino grandstand in Manila with the assaulting team found lacking the proper equipment such as vests, helmets and sub-machine guns suitable for such operations.

Since then, the various SWAT units have staged demonstration drills, including mock hostage rescue, designed to show off their skills.

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