Taguig police probing case of curfew violator who died in detention

MANILA, Philippines — The Taguig City Police Station is looking into the death of a 28-year-old man who died in its detention facility 11 days after his arrest for violating the curfew being enforced due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

In an interview with the Inquirer on Monday, the Taguig City police chief,  Col. Celso Rodriguez, said investigators were not ruling out foul play in the death of Ramil Pagios, a resident of Barangay Ususan, despite an autopsy report showing he died of a heart attack.

“We are not setting aside foul play. We are also checking whether the victim suffered from physical abuse either from the barangay personnel, policemen or his fellow inmates,” Rodriguez said.

Pagios was pronounced dead on arrival at Taguig Pateros District Hospital on March 28. He was arrested on March 17 when he reportedly tried to “push the arresting officers” and hit the barangay personnel manning a checkpoint in the city.

Rodriguez said Pagios had introduced himself as a soldier but failed to show an ID card.