Detainee dies at Manila police station

MANILA, Philippines—A man detained at the Sta. Cruz police station in Manila died inside his cell on Wednesday afternoon after he complained of difficulty in breathing.

The police said that 59-year-old Armando Ramos, who had been detained at the station for illegal drug possession since Dec. 4, suddenly began complaining that he was finding it hard to breathe at 4:15 p.m. His cell mate called the attention of the duty guard, PO3 Geford Gramaje, who rushed the victim to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Ramos, however, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, said homicide investigator SPO2 Jonathan Bautista. Bautista said that because Ramos’ family had requested that he be cremated immediately, they could not determine the cause of death.

However, he noted that the victim appeared to have suffered burns on the groin and the back of his right thigh as if he had been doused with boiling water. Ramos’ right leg also looked swollen, Bautista added.