CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) have launched an investigation into allegations that two female Bachelor of Science in Criminology interns were sexually abused by two police officers inside a police station in the city.
The allegations surfaced after one of the interns reportedly decided to speak out and seek assistance, saying she could no longer remain silent about what allegedly happened. Based on the complaints and accounts being looked into by authorities, the two police officers allegedly involved were a Police Non-Commissioned Officer and a Police Commissioned Officer assigned to the same police station. One officer was allegedly accused of kissing one of the interns without her consent, while the other was accused of touching the private part of another intern. The allegations have not yet been proven in court, and the identities of the officers and interns have not been publicly disclosed.
The reported incidents allegedly occurred during a gathering at the police station, where the two officers were said to have been drinking alcoholic beverages from the previous evening until the early hours of the morning as part of a purported despedida gathering. Following the alleged incidents, the two interns reportedly did not complete their duty at the station and did not return there, while the matter was subsequently brought to the attention of their school.
The interns also allegedly expressed disappointment over the response they received after reporting what happened. According to the accounts being circulated, they claimed that female police personnel whom they approached did not immediately take action on their complaints, particularly because one of the officers being complained against was reportedly a commissioned officer. These claims are likewise subject to verification as part of the ongoing investigation.
PRO 10 spokesperson Police Major Joan Navarro confirmed that the two police officers had already been relieved from their posts pending investigation. Navarro said authorities would determine whether sufficient grounds exist for the filing of criminal or administrative cases, while emphasizing that the cooperation of the complainants would be important in establishing the facts.
“We will thoroughly investigate the allegations,” Navarro said, stressing that PRO 10 would not tolerate wrongdoing within the police organization and that any personnel found responsible would be held accountable in accordance with due process.
COCPO spokesperson Police Captain Emelita Simon, meanwhile, said there was still no formal blotter recorded regarding the controversy at the time of the initial statement. However, the matter had already been referred to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), with police also coordinating with the school where the interns were enrolled.
PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Dean Dr. Gerry J. Caño also clarified that the school was still verifying the report involving its interns. Caño, who is also the national president of the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines, said the school would not ignore the allegations if the reported incidents were substantiated.
Caño said the school was prepared to assist the students in pursuing appropriate criminal and administrative complaints should the investigation establish that the alleged abuse occurred. He also warned that police personnel proven to have committed criminal acts could face consequences beyond their immediate cases, including possible action involving their professional licenses and eligibility.
He said his organization was prepared to coordinate with the Professional Regulation Commission regarding possible revocation of the professional licenses of personnel found liable, as well as with the National Police Commission and Civil Service Commission if questions arise concerning the eligibility of the officers involved.
Meanwhile, one of the police officers allegedly involved reportedly went to the residence of one of the complainants after the incident, purportedly to seek clarification and apologize. There were also reports of a possible settlement, although the details and legal implications of any such arrangement have yet to be independently established and do not preclude authorities from determining whether criminal or administrative offenses may have been committed.
Authorities are now expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents, determine whether the accounts of the complainants are supported by available evidence, and identify whether other personnel may have knowledge of or involvement in the events.
The case has also raised concerns over the protection and welfare of student interns assigned to law enforcement offices, particularly their ability to report alleged misconduct without fear of retaliation or institutional pressure.
PRO 10 maintained that the relief of the two officers is part of the administrative response while the allegations are being evaluated and should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt. Any criminal or administrative liability will depend on the evidence gathered and the appropriate proceedings.
For the complainants, however, the investigation represents an opportunity to formally establish what happened and determine whether accountability is warranted. Authorities and the school have emphasized the need for due process while ensuring that the allegations are taken seriously and that the interns’ rights and welfare remain protected throughout the investigation.