A Manila police officer was charged for allegedly raping a criminology student and forcing her to commit abortion, an official said.
The Manila Police District (MPD) women and children’s protection division identified the suspect as Capt. Heherson Zambale, commander of the Barbosa police community precinct. He was charged with rape and induced abortion before the city prosecutor’s office, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said.
The suspect’s wife, Aliah, would also face the same charges, as well as two other women who were allegedly abortionists.
According to reports, Zambale allegedly sexually abused the criminology student on March 7 while she was drunk. The student was undergoing her on-the-job training (OJT) at the Barbosa police community precinct.
The suspect also allegedly forced the victim to have an abortion. But when the drug failed, Zambale brought her to an abortionist in Sampaloc two months after the rape.
Sinas said MPD chief Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda already relieved Zambale. His government-issued firearm was recalled, and he was now assigned to the district holding and accounting unit.
Sinas said he “directed all district directors and chiefs of police to terminate the practice of accepting (trainees), especially if such arrangement is existing in their stations (or) units” because of the incident.
They are also ordered to report their request for trainees to the NCRPO’s regional learning and doctrine development division, which the regional intelligence division would validate.
Sexual abuse in PNP
Reports of sexual abuse involving police officers were never new. Just this May, PNP chief Gen Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered to probe the alleged “sex-for-pass” scheme involving police officers at quarantine control points (QCPs).
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Gamboa wants to conduct a thorough investigation of the sexual harassment allegations, saying the accusations are unfair to the cops who are risking their lives to do their job.
In March 2020, a Cebu police chief has been arrested for having sex with two female inmates and allowing them to sleep in his room.
In November 2019, authorities arrested a police officer who allegedly raped a female inmate in Atimonan, Quezon province.