NBI yet to wrap up probe on motorcycle rider's death in police custody

Despite an appeal from the victim's family, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it has yet to wrap up its probe on last week's killing of a motorcyclist while in police custody.

A report by GMA News' John Consulta on "24 Oras" said the NBI Death Investigation Division will conduct a reenactment next week of the incident that took the life of John Dela Riarte.

After the reenactment, the NBI will prepare its report that is expected to contain recommendation whether to press charges against Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel PO2 Jonjie Manon-og and PO3 Jeremiah de Villa before the prosecutor's office.

"Kukumpletuhin lang natin yung ating mga documentary and testimonial evidence, then ipe-present na natin kung anong appropriate na kasong dapat isampa laban sa kanila," said NBI-DID chief Danielito Lalusis.

The Public Attorney's Office, which is helping Dela Riarte's family pursue the case against the two HPG personnel, had earlier appealed to the NBI to expedite its investigation.

Dela Riarte was arrested by members of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group on July 29 when he accidentally bumped the car driven by Eric Fajardo on the southbound lane of EDSA-Estrella intersection in Makati City.

HPG men accused Dela Riarte of resisting arrest, forcing them, along with Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) constables, to bundle him into a police mobile.

Inside the vehicle, the 27-year-old reportedly headbutted and grabbed the gun of Manon-og, prompting PO3 Villa to shoot him.

Dela Riarte later died in a hospital.

Fajardo and the HPG men showed up at the investigation to give their side but they declined to give statements to media. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News