AFP assures junior officers of protection amid rape charge vs superior
Armed Forces of the Philippines seal. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assured two of its junior officers — who filed a rape complaint against a ranking military official — of protection from any form of intimidation amid a probe on the case.
The AFP likewise said that it takes “all forms of misconduct and breaches of military discipline with utmost seriousness.”
“The AFP assures the complainants that their rights are fully protected and that they are being safeguarded from any form of intimidation or undue influence throughout the process,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
READ: Military official faces rape complaints filed by 2 junior officers
“We remain firmly committed to due process, transparency, and accountability under the military justice system. These principles serve as the foundation of our pursuit of truth and justice while ensuring fairness to all parties concerned,” it added.
An earlier report published by INQUIRER.net revealed that the complaint was lodged before the Prosecutor’s Office against an unnamed military official accused of sexual assault earlier this year by two junior officers serving as his office assistants.
The reported assault occurred last January 29 after the official and his assistants attended an event that lasted until early morning the following day, according to the complaint.
Sexual assault
The two junior officers then proceeded to the official’s residence, where they were allegedly subjected to a series of inappropriate and coercive acts, culminating in the sexual assault.
The joint criminal complaint for rape through sexual assault and attempted rape through sexual assault was filed after an earlier military investigation found prima facie evidence that the official exhibited conduct unbecoming of an officer and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
In response to this, AFP said that the high-ranking military official was already relieved from his post and is currently under restrictive custody.
“A pre-trial investigation was subsequently conducted and has since been completed. The case is now pending the approval of the convening authority for referral to a General Court Martial and its eventual convening,” it added.
In a separate statement, the Philippine Air Force admitted handling a “case of the same nature” as described in the report.
“Based on the published report from Inquirer.net, there was no specific named Officer mentioned. However, we have a case of the same nature undergoing investigation in the General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines, in accordance with the existing rules and procedures,” PAF said in a statement.
“To protect the integrity of the ongoing proceedings and safeguard the privacy of those involved, the PAF will respectfully refrain from making further comments regarding this issue,” it added.
PAF also stressed it “does not condone any form of misconduct” and “remains committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and respect among our personnel.” / MR
