A cousin of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo weeps as he views the remains of the 22-year-old Novaliches resident who was arrested for going shirtless in public on June 15 and mauled to death four days later while in police detention. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON
The House Makabayan opposition bloc has filed a resolution which seeks to conduct an investigation into the death of 22-year-old Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo due to alleged beatings while in the custody of the Novaliches Police Station 4 in Quezon City.
— Path Roxas (@PathRoxasINQ) June 26, 2018
ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago filed House Resolution 1971 on Tuesday.
“Kailangan ng hustisya para sa walang saysay na pagkamatay ni Genesis Argoncillo matapos na arestuhin siya at ma-detain sa kamay ng pulis ng Quezon City alinsunod sa anti-tambay campaign ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte,” Tinio told reporters.
“Tuwing nag-uutos si Pangulong Duterte ng mga kilos ng pulis, palaging may namamatay at palaging maralita ang biktima. Kaya nananawagan din tayo sa House leadership na kagyat na tumugon at mag-schedule ng hearing dito,” he added.
Tinio also chided the lower chamber for not acting on their resolutions on human rights violations under the Duterte administration.
“Mahigit isang-daan na po ang mga resolution kaugnay sa human-rights violations sa ilalim ng Duterte admin pero ni isa sa mga ito ay hindi pa dinidinig,” he lamented.
For his part, Zarate said he hopes Argoncillo’s death would be the beginning of the crusade toward achieving justice for all human-rights victims.
“Ang pangalan ni Tisoy ay Genesis Argoncillo, ang genesis ibig sabihin beginning o simula. So ito sana ang simula, sana ang sakripisyo ng buhay ni Tisoy ay simula ng pagbibigay ng hustisya sa lahat ng mga biktima ng walang katuturang pagpatay sa ilalim ng administrasyong ito, sa kampanya laban sa droga at itong kampanya laban sa tambay,” he said.
On Monday, the group also filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) alleged “illegal arrest” of over 7,000 “tambays” (loiterers).
READ: Makabayan bloc seeks probe into PNP’s ‘illegal arrest’ of 7,000 ‘tambays’
The progressive lawmakers cited that Argoncillo was arrested by police on June 15 in front of a store “just less than 10 steps away from his home” because he was not wearing a shirt.
Four days later, Argoncillo’s family found him dead in a hospital “bearing several marks of beating.”
But Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. earlier denied these allegations of police brutality.
According to Esquivel, Argoncillo complained of shortness of breath on June 19 and was rushed to the nearby Novaliches District Hospital for medical attention. Esquivel also faulted QCPD’s “heavily congested” custodial facility for the recent deaths of five persons under custody (PCUs) who died inside different custodial facilities of QCPD.
He also clarified that Argoncillo was arrested for alarm and scandal, and not by virtue of any City Ordinances or the police’s “Anti-Tambay sa Kalye” operation.
READ: QCPD chief says death of detainee not due to police brutality
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar has welcomed the filing of the resolution. He also vowed that policemen found responsible for Argoncillo’s death would face sanctions.
“Kung meron mang pagkakamali on the side of the police, lagi namang may corresponding investigation and sanction after the result of the investigation,” he told reporters.
In a speech last June 13, President Rodrigo Duterte directed authorities to be strict with tambays, saying they are “potential trouble for the public.”
“‘Yung kalsada, ‘yung highways are– we built it for the law-abiding citizens. Ang mga criminal dapat diyan, ang mga durugista, they are not supposed to be there. So my directive is ‘pag mag-istambay-istambay diyan sa, sabihin niyo, ‘Umuwi kayo. Kay ‘pag hindi kayo umuwi ihatid ko kayo doon sa opisina ni ano — Pasig,’” Duterte said.
(We built the streets and highways for the law-abiding citizens. The criminals and the druggies are not supposed to be there. So my directive is when you see a loiterer, tell them, “Go home. If you don’t go home, I will bring you to the office—in Pasig.”)
“Do not… You be strict. Part of confronting people who do not do nothing and just idling around, they are potential trouble for the public,” he added.
Following this statement by the President, the PNP has launched its crackdown against tambays who violated ordinances, such as drinking, smoking or urinating in public places; illegal peddling; littering; breaching peace and order; and concealing deadly weapons, among others. /jpv
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