MANILA -- A Palace official on Thursday refused to comment on the death of suspected carjacker Ivan Padilla who was supposedly a victim of police rub-out.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they will leave the case to the Philippine National Police (PNP) who was the main concern in the incident.

“That is the task of the LGUs and the Philippine National Police. We let them handle the case,” he told Sun.Star.

The mother of Padilla, Malou, requested the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the death of his eldest son, believing that authorities went overboard in engaging Ivan.

Ivan’s death certificate showed that he died due to “asphyxia” or lack of oxygen as a result of “blunt force to throat”. A mark was also found on his neck.

Authorities denied that there was rub-out in the supposedly shootout between them and Ivan last Monday.

Ivan was allegedly the mastermind of several car theft incidents in Metro Manila, including the recent carjacking of the Volvo SUV of the mother of actor Derek Ramsay in Tagaytay. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)