Commander of Tondo police station with ‘secret cell’ sacked

Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel ordered the administrative relief of the MPD Station 1 commander after the discovery by the Commission on Human Rights of a hidden lock-up cell with 11 people inside.

Tondo Station 1 commander Supt. Roberto Domingo has been temporarily dismissed to give way for the investigation of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Internal Affairs Service,  Radyo dzBB's Carlo Mateo quoted Coronel as saying.

Police Chief Inspector Gilbert Cruz will temporarily be officer-in-charge of MPD's Station 1, Coronel added.

Earlier on Thursday, National Capital Region Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde said that Domingo will be "temporarily relieved" over the discovery of the lock-up cell.

The lock-up cell that was hidden behind a cabinet was small, cramped, and has no electricity,  according to a report by GMA News' Jamie Santos on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

Acting on a tip from an informant that supposed drug suspects had been arrested for extortion, the CHR conducted the surprise visit on Thursday and found the "hidden cell."

Detainees claim the policemen were asking P40,000 to P200,000 from them in exchange for their freedom. They also accused the policemen of torturing them to make them admit to the crime they did not commit.

An informant from Sta. Ana, Manila told GMA News Online that authorities should also check MPD Station 6 for alleged extortion practices.

Domingo on Thursday said those detained in the cell were those who have yet to undergo inquest proceedings. He also denied that it was a hidden detention cell but called it an "investigation room."

On the accusation that they were extorting money from the detainees, Domingo said: "[It's] their words against our words. Alegasyon na lamang po nila 'yan, ma'am."  —Erwin Colcol with a report from Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG/KG, GMA News