Lacson hits 'arrogant' Bato for defending MPD Station 1's 'secret jail'

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday hit Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa for defending a secret jail at a police station in Manila.

"CPNP Dela Rosa misses the point entirely. Defending policemen for maintaining an unlivable secret prison cell hidden behind a book shelf inside a police station is incomprehensible," Lacson said in a statement posted on Twitter by radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo.

Lacson added that it was "very arrogant" of Dela Rosa to defend such act.

The senator also served as chief of the PNP. He was also Dela Rosa's superior in the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force.

Sen @iampinglacson sa pagtatanggol ni CPNP Bato sa pulis na may secret cell: Very arrogant. @dzbb
Basahin: pic.twitter.com/IwXk6LMSXq

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) April 30, 2017

He had said that policemen behind the secret jail must be punished like criminals.

In a surprise inspection last week, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) discovered a lock-up cell discreetly located behind a book shelf inside the Manila Police District Station 1 (Raxabago) in Tondo district.

Eleven inmates, including women, were detained inside the small and cramped secret jail.

The inmates had claimed that policemen asked them to produce P40,000 to P200,000 in exchange for their freedom.

National Capital Region Police Office Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of the police station's commander, Superintendent Roberto Domingo, and all members of the station's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).

The secret jail was located at the DEU's office.

Dela Rosa had defended the policemen despite the discovery of the secret jail.

"Ang pulis ko walang ginawang kalokohan," Dela Rosa said. He also questioned the timing of the CHR's surprise inspection, which was done as the country was hosting the 30th ASEAN Summit.

Lacson said in another statement posted by Ravelo on Twitter that Dela Rosa is "defending the indefensible."

"Ewan ko nga kung bakit ganun naging comment niya. Plain view pa lang, kahit wala nang magbigay ng salaysay, kita na natin na may violation of law," said the senator. —ALG, GMA News