The digital sphere erupted in criticism on July 2, 2020, as news broke of the shocking incident in Ilocos Sur. Fabel Pineda, a 15-year-old girl, was fatally assaulted by two police officers in the presence of her family. The crime occurred just moments after Fabel had filed a criminal complaint against the very officers who ultimately caused her loss of life.

The public outcry immediately questioned the fundamental promise of the Philippine National Police (PNP)—“To Serve and Protect”—asking if this assurance was reserved only for the powerful. This comprehensive analysis revisits the case of Fabel Pineda, detailing the chain of events from a simple curfew violation to a brutal, pre-meditated act of violence, and the subsequent systemic failures in the pursuit of justice.

The Curfew Violation and The Initial Assault

The tragic sequence of events began on June 29, 2020, during the height of the national pandemic lockdown. Fabel Pineda (15) and her 18-year-old cousin, Bernadeth, were attending a friend’s birthday party in Ilocos Sur, violating the imposed curfew restrictions. Around 1:00 AM, as they walked home while intoxicated, they were spotted by two police staff sergeants: Randy Ramos and Marawi Torda.

The officers apprehended the girls for violating the curfew. After the initial reprimand, the officers offered to escort the girls home. Fabel and Bernadeth initially refused, but the police allegedly coerced and intimidated them, leaving them with no choice but to ride on the officers’ motorcycles. Instead of taking them to the station, the officers drove the minors to a secluded area.

There, Ramos and Torda allegedly brandished their projectile weapons, initiating a horrific act of violence and degradation. Fabel Pineda, finding a moment of courage, managed to escape and flee the scene. This initial incident, which included the assault, became the basis of Fabel’s complaint.

The Complaint, The Failure to Protect, and The Ambush

On July 2, Fabel Pineda, demonstrating immense bravery, proceeded to the Cabugao Municipal Police Station with her cousin and uncle to file an official complaint of Acts of Lasciviousness against Police Staff Sergeants Ramos and Torda, who were assigned to the San Juan Municipal Police Station.

According to Fabel’s sworn affidavit, Torda had molested her, while Ramos had assaulted her cousin. Fearing imminent retribution for reporting the officers, Fabel’s family desperately requested a police escort to ensure their safe return home.

The request was tragically denied by the policewoman at the Women and Children’s Protection Desk, identified as Staff Sergeant Merley Joy Pasco. The officer allegedly dismissed the family’s concerns, stating, “Ano, inaasahan mo bang babantayan ka lang namin?” (“What, do you expect us to just watch over you?”)

Disheartened and unprotected, Fabel, her cousin, and her uncle proceeded home on a single motorcycle. While in transit, they were deliberately collided with by another motorcycle carrying two armed men, causing them to crash. As the family attempted to stand, the two assailants produced projectile weapons and approached Fabel.

Multiple rounds were fired, and Fabel Pineda collapsed, severely wounded. Her uncle and cousin could only watch in terror, paralyzed by the fear that they would be next. Fabel was rushed to the hospital but was tragically pronounced Dead on Arrival.

Systemic Cover-up and The High-Profile Aftermath

The incident quickly garnered national attention, fueled by the stark irony that the victim was murdered by police right after filing a complaint against police. CCTV footage from Barangay Pandayan, San Juan, Ilocos Sur, confirmed Fabel and her cousin riding on the back of the officers’ motorcycles prior to the initial assault.

The then-PNP Chief, General Archie Gamboa, publicly condemned the two officers, describing them as “animals” and “worthless police,” demanding the highest possible punishment, including life imprisonment. He also promised immediate security for Fabel’s cousin, Bernadeth, who had also filed charges against Ramos. However, the subsequent actions of the local PNP contradicted the Chief’s strong stance.

When Fabel’s mother, Blessy Pineda, a domestic worker in Kuwait, was granted leave to return to the Philippines (without financial assistance for her ticket), she arrived to a painful reality.

The local police failed to provide adequate security for the family. Furthermore, Blessy Pineda appeared on the popular public service program Raffy Tulfo in Action, claiming that the accused police officers, Ramos and Torda, who were supposedly under restricted custody, were seen freely shopping in the market in San Juan.

This revelation exposed a deep breakdown in the administrative oversight of the Ilocos Sur police. The mother’s testimony revealed that the security the family received was not from the PNP, but was arranged by the local Mayor for court appearances.

Administrative Failures and The Legal Status

The bureaucratic mishandling of the case was widespread:

Administrative Dismissals: The initial complaint of “Acts of Lasciviousness” against the officers was dismissed because Fabel, who had just been traumatized, allegedly failed to sign the necessary documents at the Cabugao station.

Lack of Accountability: PNP Provincial Director Colonel Ronald Tagao was forced to admit the “lapses” of Staff Sergeant Pasco (who refused the escort), leading to her relief from post, along with the municipal police chiefs of Cabugao and San Juan.

Jurisdictional Shift: The case was eventually transferred to the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) under the Department of Justice in Manila, removing it from the local PNP’s jurisdiction, a move often seen as necessary in cases of police abuse.

By July 2021, Ramos and Torda faced Murder charges for Fabel’s death and an additional Rape charge for Ramos concerning the assault on Fabel’s cousin. The Judge allowed bail for the Murder charge at ₱200,000, but Ramos was barred from posting bail for the more serious Rape charge.

The tragedy of Fabel Pineda also triggered a national debate concerning the country’s Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition (RA 10591), which allows off-duty police to carry their service weapons. Critics argued that the officers used their legally issued weapons not for legitimate operation, but to commit an egregious crime, leading to calls for amendments to restrict off-duty carry.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joined the public outcry, promising full support for the Pineda family until all perpetrators were held accountable, condemning the act as a severe violation of the PNP’s foundational oath.

The Final Farewell and The Mother’s Vow

Fabel Pineda was laid to rest at the Cabugao Cemetery on July 22, 2020. The funeral was a somber event, attended by hundreds, all dressed in black and white. In a heartbreaking moment captured by the media, Fabel’s mother, Blessy, described her last emotional conversation with her daughter: Fabel’s “spirit” allegedly possessed a friend, warning her mother, “Mama, huwag mo silang pagkatiwalaan. Sila ang pumatay sa akin.” (“Mama, don’t trust them. They are the ones who took my life.”)

Blessy Pineda, driven by her daughter’s spectral plea and her own profound grief, vowed to fight relentlessly. Her struggle encapsulated the immense challenge ordinary Filipinos face when confronting corruption and violence within the institutions sworn to protect them, turning the phrase “Served and Protect” into a tragic, hollow promise.