NBI probes death of drug bust victim in Albay

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing the death of Jose Maria Arvin Samson Bautista, a victim of a drug operation conducted by the Philippine National Police in Albay.

“NBI is already investigating. This is pursuant to SOJ’s directive and upon instructions from my office. I hope to get an update from them tomorrow,” Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay revealed on Sunday.

When asked if the victim’s family requested for the investigation to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Sugay answered: “I believe so.”

In July, one of the two men who hired Bautista as a driver, a certain Ramon “Omar” Mutuc, was a target of a police operation. The three of them died in the drug sting.

Based on the autopsy, 28-year-old Bautista had been tortured.

Earlier, Bautista’s mother, Evelyn, sought the National Police Commission (Napolcom)’s help in serving justice for her son’s killing.

In a letter addressed to Napolcom Commissioner Vitaliano Aguirre, Evelyn questioned why her son was wounded and bruised if a shootout really occurred between him and the police.

Evelyn has also asked the police for an autopsy report, but she still has not received a copy as of August 10.

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