Wednesday, August 06, 2008 Cop victim’s kin prefers autopsy done by NBI 7
THE family of Odon “Donnie” Noel has requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct the autopsy instead of the Regional Crime Laboratory.
Noel would have been autopsied on Friday, but his family opted to have a separate agency perform it, said Supt. Anthony Bagarinao.
Bagarinao, who heads the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, told reporters yesterday that aside from PO1 Christian Peñafiel, they will also send subpoenas to other police officers who were at the Ronda Police Station last July 25.
Peñafiel is under investigation for allegedly beating up Odon and his son Russell inside the police station.
Odon’s family claimed it was Peñafiel’s blows that led to his death four days later.
Bagarinao also said they will also try to find witnesses who do not side with the police or with the family.
It was Ronda Mayor Esteban Sia who brought up the matter to CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria.
Valmoria instructed Bagarinao to “speed up” the investigation.
Peñafiel, formerly of the Provincial Mobile Group, was relieved to the Provincial Security and Service Group.
He initially told the PIDMB that he would be seeking the services of a lawyer to help him with his case.
Initially, he denied hitting Odon, saying he only held the latter by the collar.
He had the incident recorded at the Ronda Police Station, after the Noels recorded their complaints against Peñafiel.
Once the PIDMB serves the subpoena, Bagarinao said he will give Peñafiel two days to answer the allegations.
He also plans to subpoena Insp. Allan Rosario of the Special Reaction Unit and PO2 Leo Susvilla, who were there when the incident occurred.
Though the family has decided to file their complaint with the National Police Commission, Bagarinao said their office will still conduct their own probe because it involved “internal breach of discipline.”
He said that if their findings lead them to impose a sanction that requires a higher authority to implement it, they will forward the results of their investigation to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7. (MEA)
