MANILA – A colonel in the Philippine National Police (PNP) was suspended for 30 days following the filing of administrative and criminal charges against him for rape and sexual harassment, a PNP spokesman reported.
The spokesman said the suspension order against Senior Superintendent Cesario Darantinao Jr. was issued by Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government who met with the six alleged victims while on a visit to Davao City in Mindanao.
Darantinao, who holds a rank equivalent to a colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was earlier relieved as the police director of Davao del Sur province in Mindanao despite his vehement denials.
He described the complaints as “harassment suits†which were instigated by police officers who did not agree with the policies he had laid down as the provincial police chief. But he did not elaborate.
The spokesman said Puno issued the order in his capacity as the chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) which has control and supervision over the 125,000-strong PNP.
He also clarified that Darantinao’s suspension was for only one of the six complaints filed against him with the Napolcom and the office of the Ombudsman.
As such, the spokesman said more suspension orders could be issued against Darantinao as investigation on the other complaints progresses, especially at the Napolcom.
The spokesman quoted Puno as saying that he would help the complainants as part of the Napolcom and PNP policy to deal harshly with erring police officers and men.
Darantinao was relieved from his post as the Davao del Sur provincial police chief on July 3 after four policewomen and the wives of two policemen filed complaints of rape and sexual harassment against him.
The six victims alleged that on separate occasions Darantinao either raped them or made sexual advances while they were inside his office at the Davao del Sur provincial police headquarters.
Even while he was already relieved of his post, the victims also complained that Darantinao would visit his former command and even threaten them with death if they did not withdraw their complaints against him.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the country’s mother organization of lawyers’ groups, and the Davao Lady Lawyers Association have provided the complainants with legal assistance
“We will pursue this case as this is an affront against our women and particularly our policewomen who are supposed to protect our children and women and yet they cannot protect themselves from their officers like Colonel Darantinao, said Ramon Edison Batacan, the IBP governor for Eastern Mindanao.
Senator Francis Escudero also announced that the Senate would hold a separate inquiry on the complaints against Darantinao.
Escudero pointed out the case against Darantinao was part of the alarming increase in the cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse filed against police officers and men throughout the country.
He clarified the Senate would conduct the inquiry in aid of legislation and help strengthen laws to protect women and children against such abuses.
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