A Philippine police anti-narcotics team has been disbanded after a teenager accused several officers of raping and robbing her during what authorities later described as a failed drug operation in Cavite, a province south of Manila, triggering a series of arrests and high-level investigations.
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said all 15 members of its Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit 4A were relieved of duty after the Grade 9 student, identified publicly only as “Nena”, reported that officers forced their way into her home in Bacoor City on Saturday while claiming to be pursuing her boyfriend in a “buy-bust” operation – an undercover police sting in which officers pose as drug buyers.
Acting PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jnr ordered the unit’s removal and placed its members under restrictive custody, stressing the force had “zero tolerance for abuse, misconduct or any action that undermines public trust”, according to a written statement carried by the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
The team was made up of a colonel who served as unit commander and 14 subordinates. Elmer Ragay, director of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), told reporters at Camp Crame on Monday that the group had planned to arrest a suspect in Bacoor, but the buy-bust “did not materialise” because the target escaped, as reported by Inquirer.net.
Ragay said he had relieved all members of the team and placed those already in police custody in PDEG’s administrative holding office. Although the colonel did not take part in the operation, he was relieved on the principle of command responsibility.
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The victim, described in local reports as an 18-year-old student and live streamer, later went to the police in Bacoor City to report that the PDEG officers had entered her home, taken her jewellery and mobile phone, and raped her. Local police said early findings supported her account, leading them to pursue the officers involved.