Face rape charge, cop in molest case told

By Karen Boncocan
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:51:00 01/04/2011

Filed Under: Crime, Police

MANILA, Philippines—The cop accused of molesting a vendor in Manila New Year’s Eve should face the rape charge to be filed against him, said a police official Tuesday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome stated that although he cannot monitor all 17,000 cops under his supervision, he assured the public that offenders will face the consequences of their actions.

"We will act on any offense," Bartolome told reporters, saying that an investigation on Police Officer 3 Antonio Bautista, the MPD policeman designated at the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) accused of raping a 30-year-old vendor inside the MPD is now underway.

Although a rape charge has not yet been filed by the complainant, the NCRPO chief said that he intends to look into the incident and punish the cop if found guilty. Bartolome vowed that he "will not tolerate" misdemeanors and that the accused "will be given due process."