Ex-army soldier faces raps for suspect’s death

An ex-army soldier was identified by fellow anti-crime volunteers as the one who fatally mauled Joven Tejano, a theft suspect arrested in barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City.

A charge of murder will be filed against Pedro Tianar, 40.

He disappeared after the incident, said Chief Insp. Bonifacio Garciano, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City police.

Three other members of the Trackers executed an affidavit pointing to Tianar as the one who mauled Tejano at their office in the Fuente police station.

The Trackers is a group of police assets who assist the police in checkpoints and locating crime suspects. It was formed in 2007 by the Fuente police station chief, Insp. Michael Bastes, who was relieved from his post over the detainee’s death.

Tejano was arrested last July 7 after a homeowner complained that a security camera caught Tejano barging into a house in sitio Sadpa on July 2.

Tejano was turned over to the Fuente police precinct. He was found unconscious in his cell the next day. Doctors at the Cebu City Medical Center later declared him dead.

An autopsy report showed Tejano had 15 broken ribs and died of a severe beating with the use of blunt objects like steel and wood.

Garciano said Edward Pamplona, Rafael “Raffy” Enriquez, and Eodulfo “Roy”Bohol, members of the Trackers, executed an affidavit identifying Tianar as the one who mauled Tejano at their office. Tianar was asked to appear at the homicide office for investigation but did not show up. He disappeared.

Tejano’s mother, Anita, said they would seek justice for the victim’s death and rejected an offer by the police to settle the case for P10,000.

The Trackers was formed when Bastes was still chief of the theft and robbery section of the CCPO. CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON