No sexual abuse complaints vs. cops in Caraga amid quarantine

BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) has not received any complaint on sexual harassment against police personnel serving as front-liners amid the community quarantine in the region, an official said Tuesday.

“Record from the Regional Women and Children Protection Desk (RWCPD) reveals that since the start of the quarantine period in Caraga on March 17, 2020, their office has not received any complaint against Caraga cops manning the control points for committing any form of sexual abuses,” said Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., PRO-13 director, amid claims of sexual harassment in other regions.

He said the Philippine National Police (PNP), as one of the members of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, are tasked to man quarantine checkpoints together with personnel from the Department of Health (DOH), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Esquivel said aside from the support to quarantine checkpoints, police personnel are also involved in securing the distribution of food packs and financial aid to the affected residents.

“If you have any complaints against our policemen committing sexual abuses in quarantine control points in the region, you may immediately report to Women and Children Protection Desk at your local police station,” Esquivel said.

He assured any complaint will be given appropriate action and violators will be meted out the corresponding penalty.

 

Earlier, PNP chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa encouraged victims of alleged sexual abuses by police officers during the lockdowns to file complaints.

Gamboa said the PNP organization will not tolerate any form of physical or sexual abuse against women especially at the time that the country is facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (PNA)