Senate probe on ‘secret jail cell’ set next week

The Senate public order committee headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson will conduct an investigation next week on the hidden jail cell discovered in a Manila police station.

On Tuesday, Lacson said his committee will hear the resolution filed by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV to investigate the lock-up cell, where more than 10 inmates were found by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“Hahanap na lang ng date, probably, siguro next week [we will conduct the investigation,” Lacson said.

Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 348 pushing for an investigation on the secret jail cell, as he called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to clean up its ranks.

Aquino, a member of the Liberal Party (LP), also chided Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for defending the cops behind the hidden cell.

“As the government’s enforcement arm in its war against illegal drugs, the PNP should safeguard the public’s trust by ensuring that abusive policemen are investigated and punished accordingly,” Aquino said.

Lacson also earlier called Dela Rosa “arrogant,” saying there is no valid justification for the act of the policemen.

The secret jail cell was discovered last week behind a bookshelf inside the Raxabago Police Station in Tondo, Manila.

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

Senator Risa Hontiveros also filed Senate Resolution 351 calling for an inquiry on the secret jail cell.

“The issue of secret detention centers must be seen against the backdrop of the government’s war on drugs that has killed thousands of Filipinos, mostly from impoverished areas, and has demonstrated an ignorance of, and disdain for, basic standards of human rights,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros has called for a public health approach to the country’s drug problem. — RSJ, GMA News