MANILA, Philippines — A Manila policeman accused of raping the 15-year-old daughter of a couple arrested for drugs has been formally charged in court.
The rape case filed against Police Officer 1 Eduardo Valencia was raffled off to Judge Phrincess Bajarias-Hermogeno of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 48 on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Ma. Julpha Maningas indicted Valencia for rape after finding probable cause he allegedly sexually abused the girl in exchange for the release of her parents, who were detained on drug charges on Oct. 26.
Valencia, an anti-drug operative of the Manila Police District Station 4, took the girl to a motel in Sta. Mesa where she was allegedly raped.
The policeman has denied raping the victim. He downplayed the incident as a “practice” in anti-drug operations.