Manila ‘torture cops’ identified by inmates
MANILA, Philippines—The two detainees who claimed to have been tortured at Manila police stations have positively identified four of their alleged tormentors as being from the Blumentritt police community precinct, an investigator from the Human Rights Commission said Wednesday.
In a lineup at the Manila Police District Station 3 in Sta. Cruz Wednesday morning, the complainants—robbery suspects Gerry Diaz, 38, and Rommel Perez, 30—picked out four Blumentritt PCP personnel as the ones who allegedly beat them up using “yantok” (rattan) stick.
The policeman who allegedly poured hot cooking oil on them remains unidentified.
The Commission on Human Rights, which is leading the probe into the alleged torture, refused to disclose the identities of the pinpointed policemen.
“They are presumed innocent” until proven guilty, CHR-National Capital Region special investigator Albert Figueras said in an interview at the MPD-Station 3.
A day earlier, however, MPD Station 3 commander Superintendent James Afalla directed Police Officers 1 Lester Caguintuan, Christopher Duran, Eduardo Larroya Jr., Richard Closa, Andrei Nunez and Michael John Cabusao of the Blumentritt police stations participate in the lineup.
Diaz and Perez were arrested early Monday soon after passengers of a jeepney who had been robbed at the corner of Rizal Avenue and Pampanga Street in Sta. Cruz sought help from the police.
The two Tondo residents were allegedly tortured by the policemen at the Blumentritt station in an attempt to make them admit to the crime.
They face robbery complaints at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office and have been turned over for detention at the MPD Station 3 jail.
Perez admitted the crime initially, but on Wednesday he told the CHR investigators that he was only walking in the area at the time on his way to buy medicines. He said he admitted the crime because of the torture, CHR-NCR special investigator Marlon Poblador said.
Diaz claimed that at the time of the crime, he was in the area because he was asked by his wife to collect payment for a debt, Figueras said. In an earlier interviews, Diaz’ wife admitted he was a snatcher, but not a hold-up man.
The CHR investigators, who were accompanied by doctors, declined to say if the initial medical examinations proved that torture did take place.
“But from the naked eye, we saw burn marks on their backs, hematoma on their limbs,” Figueras said.
The CHR will have to weigh the statements of the complainants against the statements of the police and other evidence. The four policemen will be asked to give counteraffidavits to the CHR, the investigators said.
Afalla said that while the investigation was ongoing, he would recommend that the four policemen be temporarily disarmed and reassigned to the MPD headquarters “under restriction.”
“We’ve cooperated and the policemen have readily surfaced with a lawyer, which is their right,” Afalla said in a phone interview. “But like I promised, we will not tolerate abuses. If probable cause against [the policemen] is found, we will hold them liable,” Afalla added.
