Inmate found dead in jail

A 28-YEAR-OLD inmate was found hanging dead inside his cell in Aloguinsan town, southwest Cebu.

Reynante Villarta Rieza was found with a blanket tied around his neck and the other end tied to the iron grill of the cell’s window.

The blanket was used as a rag inside the cell, said police.

The man identified himself as Rey Rosales when he was arrested last Dec. 30. His real name was discovered through his live-in partner, who went to the town’s police station after she was informed of the man’s death.

PO1 Ronel Gantuango found the man suspended from the iron grill while he was conducting an inspection around 5 a.m. last Monday.

Rieza was rushed to the Pinamungajan District Hospital but did not make it alive.

Lyndon Villegas, health officer of Aloguinsan, said Rosales died of asphyxia through strangulation.

Police said there were no signs of foul play in the inmate’s death. The body was brought to the St. Francis Funeral Homes in Cebu City for an autopsy.

Rieza was arrested in a checkpoint in barangay Poblacion, Aloguinsan, after he was tagged as a suspect in robbing a 51-year-old woman.

Maria Victoria dela Cerna lost a gold necklace worth P6,000 and P6,930 cash in the robbery.

A Honda Wave motorcycle and a .357 Magnum revolver with six bullets were seized during Reiza’s arrest.

Police said it was possible that depression drove Reiza to commit sucide after learning that Dela Cerna was determined to file charges against him./CORRESPONDENT RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL