14 more sue 10 Biñan cops over ‘wheel of torture’ game

Commission on Human Rights Chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Fourteen more detainees who claimed to be victims of the so-called Wheel of Torture game in a police camp in Biñan, Laguna, have come forward to file complaints against 10 relieved policemen of Biñan, Laguna, who were allegedly behind the crime.

Commission on Human Rights Chair Loretta Ann Rosales, in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said the number of complaint-affidavits against the respondents have increased from 15 to 29, as of Wednesday.

This only showed that more and more victims have become confident in the justice system and the way the CHR and the Philippine National Police have been handling the issue, Rosales said.

“The wheel of torture is medieval. It’s so bizarre. This is so alarming as it speaks of a dangerous mindset that derives pleasure out of inflicting pain,” she said.

She said the PNP leadership had informed her about the dismantling of the torture chamber at the PNP Provincial Intelligence branch in Biñan as soon as the reports came out.

Rosales asked PNP Chief Director General Alan LM Purisima to order the investigation of the camp commander in Biñan for possible lapses and for not reporting and acting immediately on the existence of the torture chamber.

She surmised that the chamber had been there for more than a year since the torture and abuse of detainees have been reported since last year.

Rosales also noted that most of the tortured detainees had not been formally charged by the police following their arrests.

She reminded the police that a respondent in a crime must be must be charged within 36 hours from the time of arrest. Otherwise he or she must be released.

And if charged, there should be inquest proceedings within 60 days.

Rosales likewise noted the failure of the police commander to report to the Department of Social Welfare and Development the presence of two minor detainees who were also victimized by the torture game.

She was referring to Isiah Hadlocon, 16, who was arrested for drugs on Jan. 5, 2014 and tortured; and Jayvee Dimapilis, 17, who was arrested for drugs on Jan. 5, 2014 and tortured on the same day.

Rosales said the CHR had informed the families of the two minors of their plight and contacted DSWD to take custody of them.

“Ang nakakatakot diyan, Laguna is just a stone throw away from Metro Manila so how much more from the remote areas?” Rosales said.

“This is insane, and speaks of ‘kahayupan’ (depravity) and karumal-dumal na gawain (heinous, atrocious behavior),” she stressed.