Manila cop keeps denying torture

dismissed Senior Insp. Joselito Binayug photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Despite the video purportedly showing him tugging a string attached to a naked man’s genitals, dismissed Senior Insp. Joselito Binayug entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday to the charge that he and six other Manila policemen tortured a robbery suspect in 2010.

The policeman, who was arrested earlier this week, was arraigned before Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Tita Alisuag for violation of Republic Act No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act.

Alisuag set first hearing on the case on June 19.

Binayug and six other policemen, including his younger brother PO1 Nonito Binayug and cousin PO1 Rex Binayug, were charged for allegedly torturing Darius Evangelista inside their precinct in Asuncion, Tondo, in March 2010.

Evangelista had since disappeared while Binayug, who was then the station commander, went into hiding after a video of the torture session was leaked to the media.

Binayug was arrested on Monday when he surfaced at the Land Transportation Office in Tayuman, Manila, to renew his driver’s license.