Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian and Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) Officer-in-Charge PCOL Salvador Destura Jr. held a press conference regarding the arrest of local police officer PCPL Reynold Aggabao Panao for Statutory Rape, September 5, 2022.

A local police officer is facing criminal charges for allegedly abusing and raping the 9-year-old daughter of his current live-in partner in Dalandanan, Valenzuela City, said the authorities. PCPL Reynold Aggabao Panao is married to a public-school teacher based in Isabela and has 5 children aged 21, 13, 12, 7, and 4. He entered the police force in 2014 and was assigned in Valenzuela City in 2016 as a PCP Beat Patroller. He was separated from his wife and family allegedly from financial problems until he met the mother of the minor victim, who became his live-in partner for approximately four months to date since May, 2022.

According to the investigation, on September 3, at around 1:00 in the morning, the 9-year-old minor victim was awakened at their home in Sumilang Subdivision, Dalandanan, Valenzuela City, after the suspect placed the victim’s hand inside his underwear to purposely touch his private part, the victim then removed her hand, but a few moments later, the suspect placed his hands inside the lower garments of the victim and repeatedly sexually abused her. The suspect then threatened the victim not to tell her mother.

At around 12 noon of the same day, the minor victim told her mother that PCPL Reynaldo Panao sexually abused her, with this information, the victim’s mother sought the assistance of the police from Dalandanan Police Sub-Station 6 which resulted to the immediate arrest of the suspect. During the victim’s interview at the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), it was revealed that the first sexual assault happened on July 4, 2022 and that it already happened several times, particularly when the victim’s mother was not around. Medical examination of the victim showed indications of blunt force penetrating trauma from the incident.

On September 4, two counts of statutory rape were filed against the suspect PCPL Panao before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office through E-Inquest proceedings conducted by Assistant City Prosecutor Deborah Marie Tan.

During the press conference, Mayor WES reiterated that he will not tolerate these kinds of heinous acts in Valenzuela City, especially from the police force saying “Nakakapanghina po ng loob at nakakalungkot ang ganitong klase ng pangyayari lalong-lalo na galing sa ating kapulisan, I hope that this will serve as a reminder, kaya po dumating ako dito personally para tutukan ito mabuti.” [It is very weakening and saddening that these kinds of acts are happening in our city, especially from our police officers. I hope that this will serve as a reminder, that is why I came here to look over this case personally.] Mayor WES also promised to provide all the necessary counseling and social services to the victim through the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO).

The Suspect, PCPL Panao is currently detained at the custodial facility of the Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) after undergoing inquest proceedings last September 4, 2022.