DAVAO CITY — A 21-year-old woman rescued by police from an alleged abusive relationship with a Chinese national in a local hotel in Davao City has declined to file formal charges, allowing the suspect to remain at liberty, authorities confirmed on Wednesday, February 5.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said the woman was assisted by members of the Tourist Police at the lobby of the Royal Mandaya Hotel on February 4 after staff and guests noticed she appeared distressed and disoriented.
DCPO spokesperson Police Captain Hazel Caballero Tuazon said the victim was found in a “disheveled and emotionally shaken” state when authorities arrived.
“Based on our investigation, the injuries and bruises on the victim’s body were already two days old,” Tuazon told reporters. “Unfortunately, she refused to file a complaint, so we had no legal basis to detain the suspect.”
Alleged Repeated Abuse
The victim, identified only by the alias “Marie,” is reportedly from Pasay City. She told investigators that she had been in a relationship with the Chinese national for about six months and admitted that the incident was not the first time she had been physically abused.
According to her account, she was allegedly beaten inside their hotel room two days before seeking help. She said fear and emotional distress prevented her from immediately reporting the incident to authorities.
Despite the incident being recorded in police blotter records, the woman maintained that she has no plans to pursue legal action against her boyfriend.
Links to POGO and Fake IDs Alleged
Police said the woman also alleged that her boyfriend is a “POGO boss,” referring to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, and that he traveled to Davao City to obtain fraudulent Philippine identification documents.
She claimed their trip to Davao was primarily intended to process fake IDs for the suspect.
However, DCPO officials clarified that the Chinese national currently has legal immigration documents on record with the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
“We are closely coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to verify the allegations regarding fake IDs and possible involvement in illegal activities,” Tuazon said.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the suspect is officially connected to any POGO-related operations.
Suspect Remains Free
Due to the absence of a formal complaint, police said they were unable to file charges or place the suspect under custody.
Under Philippine law, cases involving physical abuse and domestic violence generally require the cooperation of the victim, unless supported by sufficient independent evidence.
“This situation highlights the difficulty in prosecuting abuse cases when victims choose not to come forward,” Tuazon noted.
Police Renew Appeal to Abuse Victims
The DCPO renewed its appeal to victims of domestic violence and abuse to immediately seek help and cooperate with authorities.
“We strongly encourage victims not to remain silent,” Tuazon said. “Filing a complaint is crucial so that perpetrators can be held accountable and prevented from harming others.”
She added that law enforcement agencies remain ready to provide protection, legal assistance, and support services to victims.