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5 QC cops relieved from posts over death of Genesis Argoncillo


Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. on Friday said at least five policemen of the Novaliches Police Station have been relieved from their posts following the death of detainee Genesis "Tisoy" Argoncillo.

Aside from the Quezon City Police Station 4 (Novaliches) commander Superintendent Carlito Grijaldo and jail guard Police Officer 3 Dennis Saño, other police personnel relieved were the desk officer, staff duty officer and the shift patrol supervisor.

"Five of them were relieved of their position effective June 21, pending investigation on the case," Esquivel said at a press conference in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.

Esquivel identified the other relieved police personnel as desk officer Senior Police Officer 3 Ronald Nañola, staff duty officer Inspector Oliver Dela Cruz and shift patrol supervisor Senior Police Officer 4 Valerio Perez.

At least two suspects, who were fellow detainees of Argoncillo, are under the custody of the QCPD. The suspects identified as Justin Mercado and Richard Bautista are allegedly members of Sputnik Gang.

Both of the suspects were positively identified by at least three witnesses who are also their fellow detainees. The witnesses claimed that they saw the two suspects conspired with some other detainees in beating up Argoncillo.

"We have witnesses, Nestor Millete, Sterence Lamac and Rolly San Jose, all detainees. However, Nestor Millete was able to post his bail and is already out. According to witness Nestor, he witnessed the beating of Argoncillo by Mercado and Bautista along with their co-detainees around 10 pm last June 18, 2018," Esquivel said.

"Witnesses, Sterence and Rolly also said that they saw detainees Mercado and Bautista to have conspired along with other fellow detainees in beating up the victim," he added.

Argoncillo, who was allegedly arrested for "alarm and scandal" last June 15 and was detained at the Novaliches Police Station, died due to difficulty in breathing, the Quezon City Police District Police claimed.

Citing the findings of the victim's attending physician Dr. Jethiel Fabon, the QCPD earlier said that Argoncillo was not mauled as the deceased's body bore "no signs of external injuries."

Police also belied allegations that Argoncillo was arrested due to the implementation of city ordinances or the "anti-tambay" operations.

However, the QCPD on Friday admitted that Argoncillo was indeed beaten up, citing the autopsy result and his death certificate which showed that the victim's immediate cause of death was "multiple blunt force trauma" in his "neck, head, chest and upper extremities."

"Just to be clear, we are not changing the tune of our press release, we stand by the fact that at the time of the death, the report was that, there was no external injury and we did not stop at that because no less than the aunt and the sister is saying something is amiss here," Esquivel said.

"So we investigated and we've come to a conclusion last night, there was indeed beating up that resulted to the death of Tisoy," he added. — RSJ, GMA News 

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