MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered a thorough investigation into alleged rape and physical abuse involving officers assigned in Manila and Cebu.

PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed the Directors of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas to relieve the officers involved and place them under restrictive custody.

“Any complaint against our personnel is taken seriously not only to uphold discipline but also to send a strong message to the Filipino people that we do not condone any action that compromises the integrity and professionalism of their Philippine National Police,” Nartatez said in a statement on Sunday.

He added that if the officers are found liable, they will face dismissal and criminal charges. “These two cases will be investigated, and if they are found liable, we will make sure that they will not only be dismissed from the service but will also face criminal charges,” he said.

An initial probe showed that a 27-year-old victim sought help from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption after an alleged sexual assault by a Manila Police District officer. A medico-legal examination confirmed the rape, though the suspect’s lawyer claimed the encounter was consensual. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reportedly captured the suspect carrying an unconscious woman into a motel in Sampaloc on December 4, 2025.

In Cebu, the investigation indicated that a police officer allegedly punched a person with a disability during a heated altercation while they were both riding motorcycles. The incident, which occurred at the village hall in Barangay Labangon, was caught on CCTV and circulated widely on social media.

Nartatez directed the immediate filing of criminal and administrative cases against the involved officers, following directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to ensure accountability within the police force.

“We assure the public that due process is being strictly observed, and that administrative and criminal proceedings will take their course,” he said.