THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 is investigating the police’s anti-illegal drug bust that resulted in the deaths of three brothers inside the compound of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City last Monday.
Lawyer Arvin Odron, CHR 7 director, told SunStar Cebu that he already issued an order to look into the deaths of brothers Jhon Vincent, Ruben and Jerome Umpad.
Jhon Vincent allegedly tried to engage in a shootout with operatives of the Mandaue City Police Office-Station 3 during a buy-bust inside the CICC compound. Ruben and Jerome also died during the shootout.
Their youngest brother, Rustom, 23, was arrested and detained at the police station.
The brothers were among the almost 100 detainees from the Mandaue City Jail who availed themselves of the Supreme Court’s Enhanced Justice on Wheels.
They were jailed for eight years for murder and direct assault cases.
Odron said that even without a formal complaint, the CHR 7 can hold a fact-finding investigation to determine if police violated legal procedures during the operation.
Odron said that he tasked the investigation section to interview the family, relatives and friends of the three brothers to get to the bottom of the incident. (JKV)