Escorts of drug rehab center face inquiry for man’s death

Police looking into the death of a man who died while being taken to a drug rehabilitation center in Cebu City will question   four men who were hired to escort Jerome Bendebel, 42, from Balamban town on New Year’s Eve.

Investigators are withholding the names of the four  men until they appear before the police, said SPO1 Ruth Violango, homicide investigator of the Cebu City Police Office.

The four men were hired by We Do Recover Rehabilitation Center to bring Bendebel, 42, to its facility in barangay Lahug. Cebu City.

According to the police blotter,   Bendebel became unruly on the way to Cebu City and smashed the windshield of the car.   He was  subdued by his escorts.

The rehabilitation center refused to accept the patient because he was already pale. Bendebel was brought to the Perpetual Succour Hospital.   Medical staff called the police since  the man was  already dead. Doctors also noticed bruises on different parts of his  body.  Results of an autopsy are still being awaited.  The victim’s sister formally reported the  death to the Cebu City Police Office  on  Jan. 3.

Police said no relatives accompanied  Bendebel when he was brought  to Cebu City on board a Gray Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number YFG-160.   His wife declined to accompany him because she couldn’t bear to see her husband being handcuffed, said Violango.

Police said  the four men were the ones usually hired by the rehabilitation center when there was  a request to pick up a patient.

Chief Insp. Jerome Oliver, Balamban police chief, said two witnesses came forward saying they saw Bendebel being beaten up in barangay Lakdon, Balamban town./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON WITH CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC