Rape case against Bulacan mayor, councilor dismissed

March 9, 2025 , 09:06 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(March 9, 2025) – A court in Caloocan has dismissed the rape complaint filed against Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque and two local government employees due to significant discrepancies and lack of evidence.

In a court order issued on February 25 but only released on Sunday, Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 121 directed the immediate release of Roque and his co-accused after the complainant, a certain Mikaela Buico Mariano, failed to appear in the proceedings.

“The subpoena sent to her was marked as ‘cannot be located,’ and this was the second time she had failed to show up in court,” said Roque’s camp in a media release. “Additionally, the complainant made no effort to follow up, despite the case dragging on for over five years.”

Last December, Roque, Pandi Coun. Reynaldo Roxas Jr., and municipal driver Rogelio Raymundo Jr. were apprehended for allegedly raping the victim at the mayor’s house in Caloocan in April 2019.

Roque denied the allegation, stressing that he did not even own a house in Caloocan.

“The attached medico-legal certificate (in the complaint) was also deemed suspicious and possibly fabricated. The Women and Children Protection Desk of Caloocan City Police and the Philippine National Police’s crime information reporting and analysis system lacked records of the complainant or her claims,” added Roque’s camp.

ALSO READ: Mayor, two government officials nabbed over rape allegations in Bulacan

The Philippine Statistics Authority also confirmed that Mariano has no civil registry records.

Based on the findings, the court deemed the evidence insufficient for further legal action.

“He (Roque) decried the filing of what he called a fabricated case as an intentional attack on his name and reputation,” added the mayor’s camp. “He also expressed concern over the failure of the judicial system to prevent malicious or unfounded prosecutions, emphasizing that the case continued despite obvious flaws in the complainant’s identity and allegations.”

Roque and Roxas are seeking reelection in the 2025 midterm elections.

(With reports from Mon Gualvez, News5)

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