The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured protection to the two junior officers who filed a rape complaint against a high-ranking military official.
“The AFP assures the complainants that their rights are fully protected and that they are being safeguarded from any form of intimidation or undue influence throughout the process,” the AFP said in a statement.
The military also underscored its commitment to taking “all forms of misconduct and breaches of military discipline with utmost seriousness.”
“We remain firmly committed to due process, transparency, and accountability under the military justice system. These principles serve as the foundation of our pursuit of truth and justice, while ensuring fairness to all parties concerned,” the AFP said.
“The AFP continues to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the fulfillment of its sworn duty to protect the people and the state,” it added.
A previous report revealed that a senior military officer is facing rape complaints filed with a prosecutor’s office, following accusations of sexual assault by two junior officers who worked as his office assistants.
The alleged incident occurred on January 29 after a night out. The victims filed their complaints the following day.
According to the report, a joint criminal complaint for rape through sexual assault and attempted rape through sexual assault was submitted after a military investigation found prima facie evidence indicating that the officer engaged in conduct unbecoming of an officer and actions detrimental to good order and military discipline.
In response, the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that the senior officer has been relieved from his duties and is currently under restrictive custody.
“A pre-trial investigation was subsequently conducted and has since been completed. The case is now pending the approval of the convening authority for referral to a General Court Martial (GCM) and its eventual convening,” the AFP noted.
Responding to the report, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) stressed on Tuesday that it “does not condone any form of misconduct.”
Although the report did not identify the military official involved, the PAF acknowledged that “a case of the same nature” is currently being investigated at the AFP General Headquarters, following existing rules and procedures.
“To protect the integrity of the ongoing proceedings and safeguard the privacy of those involved, the PAF will respectfully refrain from making further comments regarding this issue,” the statement sent to ABS-CBN News read.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and respect among our personnel,” the PAF also said.