Woman files abuse complaint vs. police officer partner

MANILA — A woman has filed an administrative complaint before the National Police Commission against her live-in partner, a police staff sergeant, over alleged repeated physical and emotional abuse.

The complainant, alias “Kara”, said she and the police officer had been together for six years, with the alleged abuse starting in 2022.

“Physically, emotionally, tsaka mentally. Paulit-ulit na pambubugbog sa akin (He beat me repeatedly),” Kara said.

She presented CCTV footage that captured several incidents over three years.

Among the videos she submitted as evidence were recordings of the officer hitting and kicking her following an argument over a damaged mobile phone.

“Kinukuha ko ‘yung pambayad ng cellphone ko that time na sinira niya. Tapos ayaw niyang ibigay kaya ayan na ‘yung nangyari. Sobrang galit niya sa akin,” Kara recalled.

(I was trying to get money to repair my cellphone that he destroyed. And he didn’t want to pay so that’s what happened. He was very angry at me.) 

In another video, the officer was seen beating Kara while she was carrying their four-year-old child.

A separate recording also showed the officer holding a firearm before pointing it at her.

Kara said she had previously reported the incidents to authorities but repeatedly chose to forgive her partner, hoping to preserve their relationship for the sake of their child.

“Love is blind. Hindi ko naman alam na ganyan (I did not think it would be this bad),” she stressed.

She said that her partner has not changed his ways and has continued to drink and use harsh words.

The case recently drew widespread attention online after footage of the alleged abuse went viral.

“Kara” had also filed a criminal complaint against the police officer at the Pasay City Police Station.

NAPOLCOM’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service said it would begin an initial evaluation of the administrative complaint and the evidence submitted by “Kara”.

“There will be due process. We will be requiring him to submit his answer,” Edman Pares, the agency’s staff service director said.

“After that, we will be determining whether or not there is probable cause to formally charge…him,” he added.

NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan, meanwhile, said the officer may face preventive suspension while the case is being heard.

Calinisan said the officer had reportedly been relieved of his current assignment and placed in restrictive custody.

“We will dismiss him, we will just go throught the process,” Calinisan said.

“I don’t think there’s an excuse for someone hitting a female multiple times at naka-uniforme pa (and while in uniform),” he added.

NAPOLCOM has summoned the officer, who apologized and admitted that he had made a mistake.

He attributed their frequent arguments to jealousy and said he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

Calinisan stressed that the commission would pursue the case through the proper process, adding that the allegations raised serious questions about the officer’s fitness to serve in the police force.

“We go back again to the recruitment of our policemen. [W]e need to ensure that we get the best, the brightest, the most upright cops in the police force,” he said.

He vowed that NAPOLCOM would hold erring officers accountable and work to remove those who are unfit for police service.