Four men have died in less than a month while behind bars at the Quezon City Police District’s Station 4 in Novaliches, with the family of the last fatality suspecting foul play and questioning why he had to suffer such a fate just for going shirtless in the streets.
A report to the QCPD director, Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, said Genesis Argoncillo, 22, was seen gasping for air around 5 a.m. Tuesday inside the crowded cell. He was later pronounced dead in the hospital.
Argoncillo, a resident of Barangay Gulod who was arrested for “alarm and scandal” on Friday, had no signs of external injuries, Esquivel said, quoting the attending physician.
But his elder sister Marilou said Argoncillo earlier told her that he was getting a beating from his cell mates. “He told me that they were stealing his food. That’s why I stayed long enough (during visits) to make sure he could eat. I saw his bruises.
‘Ask our parish’
“He even asked for money so he will not be beaten up; I know what it was for,” Marilou added. “ I also gave the ‘mayores’ (cell group leaders) P20 to protect my brother … (I) cooked rice and shared it with other detainees so they will not hurt my brother.”
Insisting that Argoncillo was no troublemaker, she said her brother was arrested by the police simply “for not wearing a shirt” on the night he went out to buy cell phone load. “Ask our parish, the people in the barangay hall. He was not into any fight.”
“We were told that those arrested would only be given a warning, (but) they were brought to the station.”
According to the station commander, Supt. Carlito Grijaldo, the detention site is built for only 40 people but currently holds 120.
The Inquirer learned that three other detainees at the station had died since last month. Among them was Alex Andaman, who was arrested for illegal gambling also in Gulod, who died on Monday.
Hematoma, boils
According to his friend and last visitor, Mark Glen Zorilla, the detainee looked weak and unable to stand before he was brought to Novaliches District Hospital, where he was declared dead.
An examination showed that he had hematoma on his right shoulder, as well as skin infection and boils on his back.
On June 1, Niño Cruz of Barangay Gubat, who was arrested for physical injury and unjust vexation, died minutes after his mouth started foaming, according to another detainee, Marloh Gantala.
On May 29, Jeffrey Norio, who was detained for illegal gambling, died after having difficulty in breathing. A hospital report later noted that the 27-year-old Norio had an open wound on his right leg. —With reports from Julia Ornedo and Andrea Alcaraz