Van rape suspect names cop as employer

MANILA, Philippines - A van driver who allegedly raped and robbed his passengers named a policeman as his employer.

The alleged owner of the colorum UV Express van driven by Wilfredo Lorenzo is Police Officer 2 Gregorio Bangsil, reportedly with the Quezon City police, lawyer Berteni Causing said yesterday.

Quoting his client, Causing said Lorenzo allegedly received a call from Bangsil before he was arrested on June 13.

Causing also said Lorenzo’s relatives asked a Quezon City court to transfer him to the city jail, saying they fear for his life after his alleged accomplice was killed by police officers.

He said Lorenzo’s relatives asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 101 to grant their request to order the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to turn him over to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Causing claimed that the police received the commitment order from the court on Tuesday, yet Lorenzo remains at the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) at Camp Karingal.

 Lorenzo’s alleged cohort, Alfie Palana Turado, 34, alias Buddy, was shot dead when he allegedly grabbed the gun of a policeman escorting him to his house, where he allegedly kept belongings stolen from passengers.

Lorenzo and Turado were identified by two women they allegedly raped in a colorum UV Express van. Four more women have filed charges against Lorenzo.

Causing also asked the court to reinvestigate Lorenzo’s case as he was allegedly arrested without  a warrant of arrest and that drugs were planted on him.

Lorenzo faces charges of possession of illegal drugs and two counts of rape. The next hearing for the motions filed by his lawyer is set on June 30.