General Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered on Monday the dismissal of the two policemen from Ilocos Sur who were accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls and even killing one of them, a 15-year old girl, apparently to silence her after she filed a complaint.
“I directed the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to finish and dismiss the policemen in 15 days. So starting today I am counting 15 days and hopefully by that time because according to the investigators there is a very good number of evidence that would substantially prove that indeed these 2 PNP personnel were involved in such crime,” said Gamboa.
He was referring to Police Staff Sgts. Randy Ramos and Marawi Torda, both assigned to the San Juan Municipal Police Station.
The two cops allegedly accosted the two female victims for curfew violation and took advantage of them as they reportedly appeared to be drunk. Ramos allegedly raped the 18-year old girl while Torda sexually assaulted the 15-year old victim.
The younger victim was able to escape and filed sexual assault related offenses against the two policemen at the Cabugao Police Station; but on her way home with her to relatives, two motorcycle-riding men arrived and repeatedly shot her.
Gamboa said he had ordered that the two cops be disarmed and placed under restrictive custody.
The two policemen were slapped with a case of murder while a separate case of rape was leveled against Ramos.
Gamboa said the two policemen have no place in the police service, describing them as worse than animals. He also appealed for understanding from the public.
“I would like the public to understand that the PNP is exerting its best efforts to correct this mistake. Some would even require institutional reforms which we are actually doing,” said Gamboa.
“I hope the public would understand that the PNP leadership is doing its best starting reforms from recruitment to while they are in the service so that in the end we are able to produce credible policemen who can actually maintain peace and order in the community,” he added. (Aaron Recuenco)
