Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. ordered a thorough investigation into separate allegations of abuse involving two police officers in Manila and Cebu, vowing accountability and strict observance of due process.

In a statement Sunday, Nartatez said a Manila policeman is under investigation for alleged sexual abuse. At the same time, another police officer in Cebu is being probed for allegedly physically assaulting a person with disability (PWD).

Nartatez directed the regional directors of the National Capital Region Police Office and Police Regional Office 7 to immediately relieve the officers involved and place them under restrictive custody while investigations are ongoing.

“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.

“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 added.

In the Manila case, initial findings showed that a 27-year-old woman sought assistance from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) after allegedly being sexually assaulted by a police officer assigned to the Manila Police District. A medico-legal examination reportedly confirmed that the victim had been raped.

The suspect’s lawyer, however, denied the allegation and claimed that the encounter was consensual.

Authorities said CCTV footage showed the suspect carrying an unconscious woman into a motel in Sampaloc, Manila, on December 4, 2025. The footage has since become a key piece of evidence in the investigation.

Meanwhile, in Cebu, an initial probe revealed that a police officer and the victim were riding separate motorcycles when they became involved in a heated altercation on the road. When they stopped in front of the barangay hall in Barangay Labangon, the police officer allegedly got off his motorcycle and punched the victim, causing him to fall.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, has gone viral on social media. The victim was reported to be a person with disability.

Nartatez ordered the immediate filing and close monitoring of both criminal and administrative cases against the officers involved.

“We assure the public that due process is being strictly observed, and that administrative and criminal proceedings will take their course. Kung mapatunayang may pagkukulang o pag-abuso, mananagot ang sinumang pulis, anuman ang ranggo,” Nartatez said.