Bato to Bulacan cops accused of rape: ‘Kung ito’y totoo, ipapako ko kayo sa krus’

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday warned the policemen accused of raping a 29-year-old pregnant mother in Meycauayan town that he will "crucify" them once the allegations against them would be proven true.

"Ito I promise you, kayong lima, pag ito'y totoo na nangyari, 'wag na kayo maghintay ng Semana Santa, ipapako ko kayo sa krus pati ikaw chief of police, ikaw team leader, kung ito'y totoo...ipapako ko kayo sa krus," Dela Rosa said at a press briefing inside the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (PPO).

The country's top cop, however, also vowed to assist the three policemen if the rape allegation would be proven false, saying that they should also take legal action as they have already been prejudged as rapists.

"Kung ito naman ay hindi totoo, ako ang pinaka-unang tutulong sa inyo. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan kung ito'y hindi totoo. I promise you," Dela Rosa said. "Kayo'y nagtatrabaho lang at kayo'y pinagbintingan ng hindi totoo then nandito ako at hinding hindi ako papayag na pag ito'y hindi totoo, wala kayong gagawing legal action."

"Alam ko yung pamilya ninyo prejudged na, na-prejudged kayo na kayo'y rapist, ganon ba kayo kabababoy? Kaya niyo, apat kayo maghalinghingan na rapin 'yung babae sa kwarto? Ganon na ba kayo kababoy? Not unless siguro sabog kayo sa drugs, babalik-balikan rapin 'yung babae, kaya niyo' yan? Wala ba kayong asawa?" he added.

Dela Rosa also ordered the three policemen who have been identified by the victim to undergo a drug test within the day. The fourth suspect has yet to be identified while the three cops allegedly involved in the incident have been identified as Police Officer 2  Jefferson Landrito, Police Officer 1 Marlo delos Santos, and Police Officer 1 Jeremy Aquino.

All three have already been disarmed, administratively relieved and placed under restrictive custody. The three policemen were immediately reassigned to the provincial holding admin unit in Bulacan PPO pending investigation.

The victim, who was only identified through her alias "Dolores," said she was collecting payment for "5-6" loans inside a house in Barangay Bangkal in Meycauayan when the policemen, who were conducting an anti-drug operation, barged in.

Four policemen allegedly took turns in raping her. The victim said she did not fight back after one of the policemen threatened to rape her daughter, who was with her at the time.

On March 14, Dolores was referred to the WCPD for the formal taking of her complaint affidavit and for her physical and genital examination but she refused and insisted to go home, claiming that her husband has no knowledge of the incident. She, however, promised to return the following day.

On March 15, Dolores said in another text message that she will return again on the following day.

While the press briefing at the Bulacan PPO on Friday was about to end, the victim sent text messages to Senior Inspector Susan Cullamco, officer-in-charge of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), saying that she will no longer pursue the rape complaint against the suspects, citing threats that she has been receiving.

"Ayoko na pong lumaban...Wala akong lakas ng loob, ubos na din dahil sa kahihiyan. Ma’am, sir, ipapasa-Diyos ko na lang ito. Alam naman ng Diyos ang totoo kaysa ganito ako ang nahihirapan at nasasaktan kaya sana po pakiusap tama na po mga anak ko hindi makapagaral mabuti dahil sa mga tukso ayoko na po tama na po. Diyos na po bahalang gumanti sa akin ang dami ko ng bantang naririnig," the victim said via text message.

"Pakawalan niyo na po ang mga pulis alam ko naman may mga kunsensya din yan kaya kahit hindi na sila makulong may awa ang Diyos, Diyos na lang maniningil," she said in another text message.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that the victim has been previously arrested on Jan. 15, 2015 by the Valenzuela City Police Station for violation of Section 11, Article II of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for illegal possession of drugs. The case, however, was dismissed. — RSJ, GMA News