Ex-Davao del Sur police chief charged with rape

The former police director of Davao Del Sur, who is already facing multiple sexual harassment cases before the Sandiganbayan, was, this time, charged with rape of his former police subordinate.

In a case information sheet dated August 26, former Davao del Sur provincial police director Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao Jr. was charged with Rape Through Sexual Assault as defined under Article 266-A Paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code.

Based on the information of case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman with the Sandiganbayan, Darantinao, on June 3, 2008 during his term as the provincial director of Davao del Sur PNP, summoned a female subordinate to his office and “by means of force and intimidation” raped her.

The Ombudsman, through its prosecutorial arm Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), said that though no actual intercourse transpired, the victim is considered raped as the suspect inserted his finger in the victim’s genital “against her will.”

The OSP recommended P120,000 bail bond in exchange for Darantinao’s provisional liberty.

Darantinao has pending cases of acts of lasciviousness and sexual harassment in various divisions of the Sandiganbayan also allegedly committed against his female police subordinates and a wife of one of his male subordinates.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division last year convicted him of another case of sexual harassment after he tried to kiss, hug and invite to bed a female police subordinate in 2008.

The court, however, did not impose a jail term against Darantinao, noting that he did not “employ such a degree of force as would make resistance to his sexual advances impossible.” Instead, he was just ordered to pay a fine of P20,000. —KBK, GMA News