Contrary to PNP claims, death certificate shows detainee Tisoy beaten to death

Contrary to remarks by PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde at a press conference, Genesis Argoncillo died of "multiple blunt force trauma" while in police custody after he was picked up for loitering. 

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras", the police autopsy report itself showed that the detainees who was nabbed for wearing no shirt while in public suffered injuries on the "neck, head, chest and upper extremities."

Pictures also showed bruises on his neck, chest and arms.

"Wala silang nakitang pasa whatsoever," Albayalde said at a news briefing when asked about Argoncillo's case.

"Yun po ang kadahilanan dun ay loss of breath dahil sa congestion dun sa detention cell," he added.

Argoncillo was apprehended last Friday by Quezon City Police District Station 4 personnel in an operation in Sitio Cabuyao of Barangay Sauyo for supposedly being shirtless while buying cellphone load at a store, the Argoncillo family claimed.

But the police said Argoncillo was nabbed for "alarm and scandal" after causing a commotion and challenging people to a fight.

Argoncillo's sister, Marilou, denied the accusation.

A witness said Argoncillo was just sitting in front of a store when the policemen apprehended him.

"Nakaupo lang po siya tapos kinuha po nila. Wala naman po siya ginagawa nakaupo lang po. Bale dalawa po kasi sila, nakaupo. Nagcecellphone po sila. Bigla po dumating 'yung pulis. Kinuha po siya," the witness said.

Marilou believes policemen, not fellow detainees, mauled her brother.

"Sumama 'yan ng ano sa inyo, hindi 'yan lumaban sa inyo. Tapos ang sabi kasi ng pulis doon nilabas siya ng gabi na 'yun para ilipat daw sa ibang station," Marilou said.

"Ibig sabihin sila ang bumugbog sa kapatid ko, hindi kapwa preso," she added.

Quezon City police officers denied their involvement in the death of Argoncillo.

"Hindi naman kagagawan ng any personnel from Novaliches police station. May ano na kami na kwento na sinusundan," said Superintendent Carlito Grijaldo, station commander of Quezon City Police District Station 4. —NB/BAP, GMA News