A POLICE colonel is under investigation for allegedly sexually molesting a police trainee in Soccsksargen recently, the PNP said yesterday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokeswoman Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo assured the public that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.
Fajardo did not name the police officer, who she said is now facing a probe being conducted by the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) in Soccsksargen.
Asked if the officer had been relieved from his post, Fajardo said: “We will have to check if the police colonel was already relieved. But it is expected, pending the investigation.”
Earlier reports said the police colonel brought the trainee, who was under the influence of alcohol, to an airconditioned room after a drinking spree.
The official then reportedly kissed and touched the trainee’s private parts. The officer reportedly stopped when other trainees entered the room.
Fajardo said Soccsksargen police director Brig. Gen. James Gulmatico “committed to get to the bottom of this.”
Fajardo said Gulmatico vowed he would tolerate any of his men involved in any wrongdoing.
“How much more since a third-level officer (colonel) is involved here. He wants to assure everyone, particularly the vic-tim and her family, that he is not going to tolerate (this alleged crime),” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the RIAS is leading the probe “to preclude any notion that there will be coverup or whitewash in the investi-gation that is being conducted.”
