Manila cop, wife charged for trainee’s rape, abortion

MANILA, Philippines — A police official in Manila is facing charges for allegedly raping a student trainee and forcing her to have an abortion, an official confirmed on Thursday.

The Manila Police District (MPD) women and children’s protection division filed charges of rape and induced abortion against Capt. Heherson Zambale, commander of the Barbosa police community precinct, before the city prosecutor’s office, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said on Thursday.

The same charges were also lodged against Zambale’s wife Aliah and two women who are believed to be abortionists.

Zambale allegedly raped the criminology student, who was undergoing on-the-job training (OJT) at the precinct, on March 7 while she was drunk.

He also reportedly forced her to take an abortifacient. When the drug failed, he later brought her to an abortionist in Sampaloc two months after the rape.

MPD chief Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda relieved Zambale, recalled his government-issued firearm and assigned him to the district holding and accounting unit, Sinas said.

Due to the incident, 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.”

He also ordered officials to send their request for trainees to the NCRPO’s regional learning and doctrine development division. The request would also be validated by the regional intelligence division.