12 Police Officers Charged After Suspect Dies in Custody
In Pasay City, twelve police officers are now facing criminal charges following the death of a suspect who died due to suffocation while in custody. The case has drawn attention as authorities filed complaints against the involved officers for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
Pasay police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto confirmed the charges were filed early last week with the city prosecutor. The legal action targets six personnel from Pasay City Police Substation 5, five members of the Southern Police District Mobile Force Battalion (SPD MFB), and one officer from the National Capital Region Police Office Mobile Force Battalion (NCRPO MFB).
Details of the Incident and Charges
The charges stem from an incident on August 5, when seven officers arrested a 29-year-old man from Pampanga. The suspect was accused of causing a disturbance and damaging property at a convenience store in Barangay 75, Zone 10, Pasay. Sources said the suspect entered the store’s stockroom, which triggered the arrest.
According to local authorities, CCTV footage revealed that the victim was forcibly pinned down and punched in the back during the arrest. “Nakita sa aming pag-iimbestiga, nakita doon sa CCTV mismo na ’yung dinaganan talaga yung biktima natin. Makikita rin na binigyan sa likod kasi nagwawala, parang sinuntok niya sa likod ang biktima natin,” Sesto explained.
Medical Emergency and Death
After the arrest, the suspect was brought to Pasay City Police Substation 5 for documentation. While there, he complained of difficulty breathing. Officers immediately took him to Pasay City General Hospital for treatment. However, the suspect was pronounced dead at approximately 9:40 p.m. by the attending physician.
The police chief noted that there was no information about any pre-existing medical conditions related to breathing. The Pampanga Provincial Forensic Unit’s medicolegal report confirmed the cause of death as “asphyxia by manual strangulation.”
Ongoing Investigations and Administrative Actions
Following the incident, the six Substation 5 personnel, including their commander, were disarmed, relieved from their posts, and temporarily held at the police personnel holding section. Meanwhile, two SPD MFB officers face an additional complaint for prisoner maltreatment.
Legal representatives for the SPD MFB officers requested a review of CCTV footage from nearby establishments. They argued that this footage might show the officers waiting for instructions and could help identify the actual individuals responsible for the manual strangulation while the suspect was in Substation 5 custody.
Besides the criminal charges, all 12 officers are undergoing investigations by their respective Internal Affairs Service units for possible administrative violations.
Commitment to Justice and Transparency
Col. De Sesto emphasized that the investigation is impartial and thorough. “Itong investigation na ginawa namin, walang kinikilingan ito. Whether it’s taga-DMFB or taga-Substation 5, mapalabas lang natin ’yung talagang totoo para, syempre, mabigyan din natin ng justice yung biktima dito,” he said.
Authorities continue to seek further evidence and testimonies to ensure justice for the victim and accountability for those involved.
Community members and officials await responses from the SPD and NCRPO regarding the case.
For more news and updates on police custody deaths, visit Filipinokami.com.
