General Santos City, Philippines – January 21, 2025
A police officer with the rank of master sergeant is now facing criminal charges after a 17-year-old female student accused him of rape inside a police bunkhouse in General Santos City in the early hours of January 16.
According to a police report and updates aired on local radio stations across Central Mindanao on Monday, the victim sought assistance at a police station, identifying the suspect as a member of the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the General Santos City Police Office.
Senior officials from the Police Regional Office-12 confirmed the immediate arrest of the suspect following the complaint. Authorities are conducting an in-depth investigation into the alleged incident.
General Santos City Police Director Col. Nicomedes Olaivar told reporters that the investigation is ongoing and assured the public that appropriate charges will be filed against the accused officer.
The victim narrated to investigators that she was on her way home with friends from Barangay Bula when the suspect offered to drive her to her house. However, instead of taking her home safely, the police officer allegedly brought her to the police bunkhouse and assaulted her in one of the rooms.
After returning home, the victim reported the harrowing incident to her aunt, who accompanied her to the police station to file a formal complaint.
Authorities have vowed to pursue justice for the victim and emphasized that police personnel involved in such crimes will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.