CHR to investigate hostage-taker’s death

The Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR-7) will look into the circumstances leading to the killing of a ship crewman who held hostage a 13-year-old girl Tuesday evening.

Lawyer Arvin Ordon, head of CHR-7 legal division, said they are to initiate a “motu propio” investigation to determine if the death of Andrew Lendio, 32, was justifiable.

“We cannot simply say that the killing was justifiable not unless we obtain facts,” Atty. Ordon said.

Ordon said that as of yesterday, no complaint has been lodged in their office but, nevertheless, an investigation will be conducted.

“If the allegations are true, then the rights of the innocent civilian (victim) was put at risk. The police are allowed to a certain degree to implement some force in order to repel or prevent any harm to the child,” Atty. Ordon explained.

However, Ordon said they would usually advise enforcers to only disable the suspect.

“Maybe it was a judgment call of the officer,” Ordon added.

Asked if Lendio was deprived of his “right to life,” Ordon said, “the right to life is a human right as long as the person is using this right reasonably in any means and is allowed by the law.”

Lendio’s family also want the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to dig deeper into the case.

Chief Insp. Aileen Recla, head of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), said that Lendio’s relatives went to her office and informed her that they will ask the NBI to investigate the incident.

Recla welcomed the move to avoid accusations of bias or a cover-up since a fellow police officer is involved.

Recla said the NBI will only determine the criminal aspect of the incident as the IDMB has started looking into the possible lapses of SPO4 Rogelio Cañete in responding to the emergency.

Cañete was at Pier 1 Tuesday night when he responded to the hostage drama.

Lendio, second mate of M/V Filipinas Butuan allegedly held hostage a 13-year-old high school student who was on board MV Filipinas Cebu which was scheduled to leave for Iloilo that night.

Cañete shot Lendio in the head after the latter allegedly attempted to stab the girl.

The bullet exited and hit the girl in the face.

She is still confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) but has been declared out of danger.

Lendio’s half brother, Marvin Aller, earlier revealed that Lendio often goes berserk every time he gets drunk.

Because of his behavior, he was once suspended from work.

Earlier, Cebu City police officials defended Cañete saying the police officer was just doing his job./REPORTER JOY CHERRY S. QUITO AND CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON