Family of slain theft suspect seeks justice

The family of a theft suspect who was  mauled and died inside the Fuente police precinct’s cell said they rejected an offer by the police to settle the case for P10,000.

Anita Tejano, mother of theft suspect Joven Tejano, said she wanted justice for her son and would need the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to go after the persons responsible.

“We don’t need money,” she said about the rejected settlement.

“We’re used to having no money. What we want is justice,” she said in Cebuano.

The Cebu City police’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) said they identified  a suspect in the mauling as  Rafael Enriquez, a member  of the “Trackers,”  a group of police assets  used to search for theft and robbery suspects, man checkpoints and conduct patrols.

An autopsy showed that Tejano died of injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

He was mauled after his arrest on suspected robbery  in sitio Sadpa, barangay Sambag II in Cebu City last Thursday.

Tejano had 15 broken ribs and showed signs of physical trauma inflicted with the use of objects like steel and wood, said Dr. Nestor Sator of the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 .

He had bruises in his stomach and chest, causing lacerations in his liver and lungs.

Bruises on his buttocks also showed he  may have been hit with paddles.

His  arms were badly bruised.

Sator said the assailants seemed to be deliberate about avoiding injuries to Tejano’s head.

IDMB head Chief Insp. Bonfacio Garciano said three street children who stayed at the Fuente police precinct at the time of Tejano’s detention identified the man who turned over Tejero to the police station Thursday night.

The Trackers are a group of civilian assets formed by Senior Insp. Michael Bastes, who was relieved as  Fuente police precinct chief, after Tejano’s death.

Bastes organized the Trackers in 2007 during his stint as Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) chief.

Trackers help in patrols, gathering information,   man checkpoints and make citizens’ arrests.

Garciano said the IDMB will look into possible  administrative liability  in the handling of the case.

He questioned why the Fuente police failed to bring Tejano to a hospital for treatment of his injuries  before detaining him.

Garciano noted that  Tejano was arrested last July 7 or days after  the robbery occurred last July 2.

Bastes, who was relieved as Fuente police chief as a result of the incident, was ordered to submit an affidavit along with PO2 Edward Acop and PO1 Rey Pabroa who were on duty in the precinct at the time.

Tejano was arrested by Tracker Rafael Enriquez but it has yet to be verified whether  Enriquez mauled the suspect.

Enriquez turned over Tejano to the Fuente police station but the suspect  collapsed inside the mini-cell not long after.

Joven’s elder sister Jean Heruela said her  brother didn’t deserve the beating.

She said  Tejano suffered a mental illness due to previous substance abuse and was never  known to cause any kind of mischief in their place.

She said Joven wasn’t gay as described by police. He wore  his hair long because he was a fan of Filipino action star Robin Padilla.

Anita said Joven’s mental faculties were affected when he ingested a drug at the age of 19.

Joven’s neighbors , who were interviewed at the neighborhood chapel vigil wake, said he wasn’t a criminal. He was neat, courteous and  would always ask permission before borrowing things.

One neighbor, Melanie dela Cerna, said Tejano was in their area at the time he was  accused of  robbing a home near the Abellana National High School last Sunday.

A home owner reportedly complained to police that Tejano robbed him after seeing footage of the closed-circuit TV camera installed in his house.

Even if the charge is true, Heruela said  her brother should not have been mauled.

“What’s the use of prison cells? Why did they have to beat him up?” she said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called for an investigation, saying Bastes’s relief isn’t enough.

“I’m not just satisfied in having people relieved.  If there is a person involved (in the death), cases have to be filed quick. The police must identify who should be responsible.  If it takes three to four persons (to be charged), so be it,” Rama said. /Patricia Andrea Pateña and Chito Aragon With Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac