Cops broke regulations in female suspect strip search — PNP trainers

Several elements of the strip search performed on a drug suspect at a Makati City police station did not live up to the police force's training standards, the Philippine National Police Training Service (PNPTS) admitted.

Four police officers had been relieved from their posts after footage of the improper procedure had gone viral on social media.

In a report on "Balitanghali", Inspector Emily Osea, chief of the PNPTS Personnel and Records Management, said that female suspects were never strip-searched with other people present.

"Pinaghubad nga nila 'yung babae. Never namin ginawa 'yan sa aming estudyante during demonstrations. Dapat during the conduct of search, walang ibang tao na nanunuod," Osea asserted.

She added, "Dapat po walang nagkukuha ng video,"

PNPTS police officers demonstrated how a proper search on male and female suspects were performed.

Suspects are to be searched by a police officer of their gender, with the suspect's arms raised, face flat against the wall, and feet wide apart.

A proper search for concealed objects was demonstrated for different areas, including a woman's and genital area.

According to the PNPTS, officers are never allowed to strip suspects in the location he or she is being arrested.

Moreover, a strip search is only performed when necessary and, according to Osea, it had to be done privately.

The PNP said gender-sensitivity training was incorporated in their standards. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News