Police obtain death certificate of Cavite curfew violator

General Trias City Police has obtained the death certificate of the curfew violator who died on Saturday after allegedly being punished with 300 rounds of a pumping exercise, its commander said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlo Solero said he would divulge the cause of death of the violator once he gets clearance from his higher-ups.

“Meron na rin ho kaming hawak na death certificate galing na rin ho sa hospital [We already obtained the death certificate from the hospital],” Solero said.

The victim, Darren Peñaredondo, reportedly died on Saturday after allegedly being forced to do around 300 rounds of a pumping exercise as punishment for violating curfew.

His live-in partner, Reichelyn Balce, said he was arrested by village watchmen on April 1. She said Peñaredondo only went out to buy mineral water but was arrested and brought to the General Trias Police Station.

Arrested persons were ordered to do pumping exercises 100 times, according to her. However, the violators had to repeat the exercise because they were not in sync. Balce said Peñaredondo told her he has a heart disease.

Three days after he was arrested, Peñaredondo reportedly started having seizures and was rushed to a hospital where he eventually died.

Solero denied the allegation, saying they never imposed physical exercise as punishment for violators.

Solero said Barangay Tejero officers brought Peñaredondo to their police station. According to him, they took a picture of the violators before their release to assure that they were turned over to barangay officials in good physical condition.

He said violators are usually released to barangay officers around 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. after their community service.

Solero said the results of their initial investigation were already sent to the Cavite Provincial Police Office.

On Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said their department has ordered an investigation into the death of a curfew violator.

Malaya said they coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the local government of General Trias regarding the incident.

Malaya assured the public that the police personnel involved in the incident will be held accountable if proven that they have committed improper actions on their duty.

According to Malaya, the DILG is waiting for the results of the investigation of the local government of General Trias into the incident. —KBK, GMA News