Victim’s family seeks CIDG’s help

Friday, February 3, 2012

THE family of a fisherman, who died after allegedly mauled by five policemen in Madridejos, Cebu, sought the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 to conduct a separate investigation.

“Mas maayo ni kay maklaro nato nga wala’y bias (This is better to avoid suspicion of being bias),” said Cerela Escalitas, the 63-year-old mother of Redentor Escalitas.

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Redentor, 28, died after complaining of severe stomach pains and difficulty in breathing. He had told her mother that five policemen from the Madridejos Police Station mauled him.

While they refused a request from the town police to subject Redentor to an autopsy, the family asked the CIDG 7 to ask a medico-legal officer from the PNP Crime Laboratory 7 to perform the procedure.

In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Cerela believes that her son was a victim of police brutality.

Redentor was picked up by the police past Sunday midnight in Sitio Chinese, Barangay Poblacion. The barangay was then celebrating its fiesta.

He was reportedly heading home after drinking with his friends when Redentor was accused of pounding the side mirror of a police patrol car.

According to Cerela, the record at the police blotter stated that her son was brought in at 2:45 a.m.

She wondered where the police brought her son before he was taken to the police station.

Redentor was released at 9 a.m.

Redentor was brought to the Bantayan District Hospital after complaining of severe stomach pains and difficulty in breathing. He died Monday morning.

Cerela said she forced his son to tell her the truth. Redentor told her that he was repeatedly beaten by the police.

He named PO3 Favio Daplinan, PO2 Mamerod Caracena, PO2 Rico Reboquio, PO2 Joel Pino and P01 Michael Forrosuelo as the ones who mauled him.

Daplinan, in an earlier interview, denied they mauled Redentor.

The five police officers are now facing investigation by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch.