Police deny torture after man dies in detention

MANILA. Genesis Argoncillo complained of difficulty breathing while in detention at the Novaliches Police Station. He died shortly after he was brought to the hospital. Police have denied he was tortured. (Contributed photo)
MANILA. Genesis Argoncillo complained of difficulty breathing while in detention at the Novaliches Police Station. He died shortly after he was brought to the hospital. Police have denied he was tortured. (Contributed photo)

THE Quezon City Police District (QCPD) denied on Thursday, June 21, allegations that the man who died on his fourth day in detention at the Novaliches Police Station had been tortured.

Genesis Argoncillo, who was arrested on June 15 for alarm and scandal, was rushed to the Novaliches District Hospital on June 19 after he complained of difficulty breathing. He was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. of June 19.

QCPD director Chief superintendent Joselito Esquivel said attending physician Jethiel Fabon “certified that there were no signs of external injuries” on Argoncillo’s body.

He said what happened to Argoncillo may have been a result of the congestion at the detention facility.

“We would like to make it clear there was no violent and inhumane treatment on Argoncillo contrary to the allegations of the family, citing a supposed broken rib and bruise marks on the cadaver. These are mere conjectures until an autopsy is performed,” said Esquivel.

The official said in the past several days, four other inmates also died after complaining of difficulty breathing while detained in QCPD detention cells. He said these may have also been due to congestion.

At the Quezon City Police Station 4 in Novaliches, Esquivel said 138 detainees occupy a facility designed for six detainees only.

Argoncillo’s family refused to believe the police explanation and claimed that the detainee’s body bore bruises and abrasions.

“Anong ginawa ninyo sa kapatid ko? Puro pasa ang katawan niya pati bunganga niya, hindi naman siya criminal. Kinawawa ninyo ang kapatid ko. Sana mga kapulisan, gawin ninyo ang trabaho n’yo ng tama, panindigan n’yo ang sinumpaang tungkulin n’yo na ‘to serve and protect’,” said Marilou, Argoncillo’s sister in a Facebook post.

(What did you do to my brother? His body, including his mouth, had bruises. He was not a criminal. To the police officers, I hope you do your job properly. Fulfill your oath to serve and protect.)

Marilou said her brother was arrested by the police as part of its intensified campaign against loiterers or “tambays”, which Esquivel strongly denied.

Argoncillo was arrested a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to clear the streets of “tambays” or loiterers especially at night.

“Gusto po naming linawin na ang pagkakahuli kay Genesis Argoncillo noong Hunyo 15, 2018 ay hindi sa pag implementa ng City Ordinances o Anti-Tambay sa Kalye operation. Siya ay inaresto dahil sa pagwawala nito at rumesponde lamang ang ating mga kapulisan,” Esquivel said.

(We would like to make it clear that Genesis Argoncillo was arrested on June 15 not because of violations of city ordinances or the Anti-Tambay sa Kalye operation, but because he was disturbing the peace and the police merely responded to the alarm.)

However, he said the QCPD will conduct thorough investigation on the matter and may conduct an autopsy on Argoncillo’s body once they have already secured a clearance from the family.

“Should violence be established as the cause of death, we will investigate everyone involved, including the police officers on duty, until the truth comes out and then prosecute the guilty to the full extent of the law. Should any police be involved, we assure the public and the family of the deceased of full transparency,” said Esquivel.

The PNP has been in hot water for its intensified anti-tambay drive although PNP chief Oscar Albayalde has repeatedly said that only those street loiterers who were violating city ordinances such as smoking, drinking and half naked in public will be arrested while those merely standing idle on the streets without any violation should just be instructed to go home.

Over 7,000 persons were arrested in Metro Manila during the said operations within one week. (Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines)

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