Rape charges vs. policemen alarming, says lawyer

A lawyer on Wednesday said that the rape cases filed against policemen are alarming.

Center Law trustee Gilbert Andres said that policemen should serve and protect civilians from crimes, not be perpetrators in sexual assaults.

“Talagang nakakabahala ito, kasi yung mga kapulisan natin, supposedly, sila yung ating mga heroes,” Andres said in an interview on "Balitanghali."

“Sila dapat yung nagproprotekta sa atin, at kung may mga akusasyon, alegasyon ng rape na ginawa ng mga pulis, ay nakakabahala nga. Violation ito sa oath ng mga pulis—to serve and protect,” he added.

Andres also said that it would be “demoralizing” for the policemen to watch their colleagues being dragged in rape allegations.

“Nakaka-demoralize po yan, kung ako miyembro ng kapulisan na may mga ganitong report, allegation na yung kasamahan ko,” he said.

Andres gave advice to victims on what to do when assaulted by police personnel.

“Tatlong hakbang ito: Una, kung mayroon mang nangyaring rape, ay talagang magpa-medical examination sila agad sa isang government hospital. Pangalawa, mag-file po sila ng criminal charges. Ikatlo, mag-file po sila ng administrative case sa National Police Commission,” he said. — Joviland Rita/ LDF, GMA News