The Opposition has expressed grave concerns regarding serious criminal allegations levelled against Police Commissioner David Manning, who has been accused by the alleged rape victim in a video that has been widely circulated. In light of the victim coming forward, the Opposition feels it is necessary for Commissioner Manning to voluntarily step aside while allowing an independent and competent organ of law to clear him. The Opposition noted that now is not the time to express skepticism toward the victim, but sympathy, that a heinous crime has allegedly been committed by the head of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) – an institution that is supposed to prosecute crime and protect victims in such instances. There is no statute of limitations on the crime of rape, hence the Justice system must ensure the matter is properly processed. The alleged victim in the video, claims she has been intimidated and is understandably fearful of the head of the police force. As it is widely known and understood, victims of sexual abuse often conceal their abuse for years and sometimes never expose the trauma they face due to fear of intimidation and to avoid further suffering or fear of retaliation from the perpetrator. These allegations reflect on the Office of the Police Commissioner has the potential of demeaning the Office. The Opposition also denounced the termination of the investigating officer in which the public can see as “an attempt to undermine the rule of law and pervert the course of justice”. It is hardly coincidental that the police officer who was assisting the alleged victim is somehow found guilty of malpractice and has been terminated from the force. These actions suggest that every effort is being made to suppress justice by elements within the Police Force itself. The Opposition calls on the Prime Minister to initiate an independent investigation into both the claims of the victim and the termination of Detective Pokiapon to determine if there is a case or not. Commissioner Manning must be stood down pending the outcome of the inquiry. Now that the matter is widely known in the country and potential outside the country, considerable harm has been brought on the office of the Commissioner and the RPNGC. The Opposition also calls on Prime Minister James Marape to act swiftly on this matter.