A CURFEW violator died allegedly after being beaten up by village watchmen in Calamba, Laguna.
Ernanie Jimenez, 26, had a cracked skull. His body also bore bruises and abrasions, his family said.
Police in Calabarzon said they were still awaiting the autopsy report.
Gledien Jimenez said his brother Ernanie went out at around 10 p.m. on April 7 to buy food. Curfew was from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the National Capital Region and provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
Gledien said he looked for Ernanie when the latter failed to return hours later and found him lying on the ground near the barangay hall.
He rushed his brother to the hospital. Ernanie died on April 9.
According to a witness, four barangay watchmen ran after the victim and beat him up for trying to evade arrest.
Barangay watchmen Joel Ortiz and Arjan Bahan Javierta denied the accusation and said Jimenez bumped into an electrical post and hit his head.
“Wag po tayong maniniwala sa bali-balita na kesyo binugbog, walang katotohanan ‘yan. Alam po natin ang ating ginagawa. Hindi naman po tayo ganoon ka-brutal,” Barangay Captain Rodel Manalo said in a television interview.
Jimenez was the second curfew violator to die. On April 3, a curfew violator in Cavite died of stroke a day after he was made to do excessive pumping exercises as penalty. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)