De Lima lauds PNP action vs. cop accused of sexually assaulting Nova Parojinog

Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for acting on the reported sexual assault allegedly done by a police officer on detainee Nova Parojinog.

The senator also called on the need to have mechanisms to address the grievances of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

"And as we laud the decisive action taken by the PNP against one of its own for the sexual assault committed against former Ozamis City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog here at the PNP Custodial Center, we also reiterate the need for concrete and effective mechanisms to address grievances of PDLs, and institutionalize investigative procedure for the cases of abuse being suffered by female detainees in jails and correctional facilities," De Lima said in a dispatch.

PNP spokesman Police Colonel Ysmael Yu on Friday confirmed the relief of the chief of the PNP Custodial Service Unit, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jigger Noceda, after being accused of sexually harassing Parojinog.

Yu also said Noceda is presently under the custody of the PNP Headquarters Support Service.

He added that the complaint against Noceda was filed on October 7 before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.

The incidents allegedly happened on June 9 and September 7, according to a statement given by Parojinog, as seen in a case folder of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center obtained by GMA News Online.

PNP chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Friday said he would direct the Internal Affairs Service to look into the complaint.

Parojinog was arrested during a 2017 police raid which killed their father, Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife, and 13 others. She is detained at the Camp Crame Custodial Center.

"Violence against Women (VAW) in detention is an institutional problem which persists with brazen impunity. Walang ibang matakbuhan ang mga kababaihang detainees kaya nananahimik na lang ang marami sa kanila. Kaya’t tuloy-tuloy ang pang-aabuso hanggang sa nagiging bahagi na ito ng kultura sa mga kulungan sa ating bansa," De Lima said.

The senator then urged the Senate to support her proposed bill aimed at protecting female PDLs.
 
"As early as 2017, I have been pushing for the passage of Women in State Custody Act, which I re-filed this 18th Congress as Senate Bill (SB) No. 378, to protect female PDLs from sexual and other abuses. It’s time that my colleagues in the Senate support this measure and investigate these VAW cases which may be piling up already and becoming a human rights crisis. Hindi dapat natin pinapalampas ang anumang pang-aabuso na ginagawa ng mga nasa kapangyarihan lalo na sa mga bulnerableng sektor, gaya ng kababaihan," she said.

"Kung nagagawa ang ganitong pang-aabuso sa isang high-profile detainee sa loob mismo ng Camp Crame, paano pa kaya sa mga ordinaryong correctional facilities?" De Lima said. —KG, GMA News