PNP to probe accused police claim rape charge a ploy to destroy him

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday said it is planning to look into the claim of a dismissed police official that he has been charged for raping a 15-year-old daughter of arrested drug suspects as a counter-suit ploy to pin him down.

In an interview on GMA News TV's "News To Go,"  PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said they are considering the possibility that PO1 Edgardo Valencia's claim is just his alibi.

"Meron pong nangyaring ganyan, actually marami na rin pong na-dismiss na pulis because of counter charges, pero titingnan natin ito kung ito ay alibi lang niya. Hindi naman po tayo puwedeng basta-basta maniwala doon sa kaniyang alibi," Albayalde said.

He then challenged the dismissed police personnel to prove his claim in court, otherwise it might be also used against him.

"Let him prove that in court. Ang sa atin naman po ay kahit na ma-dismiss or kahit na hindi po magdemanda 'yung biktima rito ay puwede rin po siyang (suspect) ma-pursue 'yung kaniyang administrative case at puwede pa rin... 'yan ay kadahilanan para ika-dismiss niya sa serbisyo."

PO1 Valencia is facing criminal and administrative charges for allegedly raping the minor in exchange of setting the victims' parents free.

The PNP chief also said PO1 Valencia is just about two years in the service, thus, his claim is questionable.

"Unang-una po ay alam ko nasa two years in the service pa lang ito, PO1 lang, so how can he tell na ganiyan ang kalakaran na sinasabi niya, na kabago-bago niya sa PNP?"

Albayalde said they are also investigating PO1 Valencia's immediate supervisor, and whether the dismissed police had accomplices.

"Kapag po may ganiyang kagagawan ang mga subordinates ay pati po ang immediate superior ay iniimbestigahan natin," he said. —Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News