A 29-YEAR-OLD rape suspect died inside the prison cell of Police Station 2 in Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday, May 3, due to a supposed cardiac arrest.
But, the family accused the police of mauling the suspect, Christopher Camporedondo, hours before he died.
Camporedondo was arrested for allegedly molesting an eight-year-old girl in Indahag, this city, around 11 a.m.
The police said he suddenly collapsed inside the detention facility and Oro Rescue tried to revive him. He was then rushed to the hospital but was declared dead at 4:35 p.m.
Chief Inspector Harvey Abellanosa, Police Station 2 chief, said the cause of death is still unknown as the family plans to have the body autopsied.
"Nikalit ra man siya og collapse ug nagbula ang baba. Nanawag dayon ta sa Oro Rescue para ma-revive ug gidala sa hospital pero dead on arrival na (He suddenly collapsed and foaming in the mouth. We immediately called Oro Rescue to revive him and he was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival)," Abellanosa said.
But the suspect's common-law partner, Neresa Candelansa, believed that his partner died due to beating.
She said two armed men, in civilian clothes, introduced themselves as policemen and arrested the suspect.
"Naka-civilian ang duha nga nagdakop. Ang isa nagsampong og baba sa akong bana ang isa naghawid sa kamot (They were wearing civilian clothes. One of them covered my husband’s mouth while the other restrained his hands),"she said.
Candelansa said her partner was in tears and weak when he confessed that he was beaten by the police.
She insists Camporedondo has no medical history of any illness.
"Wala na siya'y sakit busa nagtuo gyud ko nga pagkulata niya maoy hinungdan kay mao iyang ingon sa ako anang udto dihang nibisita ko unya naghilak siya unya luya na (He doesn’t have any illness that’s why I really believe that the beating he received was the reason since that is what he told me that noon. That’s why I visited him in prison and he was crying and weak)," she said.
Once she finds out that mauling was the cause of death, she said she will press charges against the police.
But, Abellanosa insist that his men have no reason no beat the suspect.
City Police Director Senior Superintendent Nelson Aganon said there was no foul play in the death of Camporedondo based on the initial investigation.
However, Aganon has ordered an investigation "as a matter of procedure if there is death that will happen in the custody of the PNP (Philippine National Police)."
"Any complain by the family should be put into writing so that the city police has official records," Cocpo said in a statement.