13 cops sacked after arrested man dies of strangulation

Thirteen police officers were relieved from their posts after a man died while in their custody allegedly due to strangulation.

According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, John Paul Magat was arrested at a convenience store after he allegedly destroyed items in the stock room.

Authorities arrested Magat after an employee reported him.

“Itong victim natin napupumiglas, so itong mga police natin nirestrain nila para maposasan then madala sa substation,” Pasay Police chief Police Colonel Joselio de Sesto said.

(The victim was trying to break free, so our police officers restrained him to put handcuffs and take him to the substation.)

Hours after he was detained, Magat asked to be brought to the hospital.

Sesto said, “9:23 ng gabi, humingi ng tulong ang biktima na baka pwede dalhin sa ospital kasi nahirapan siya huminga. So, dinala siya sa ospital at doon na siya nalugatan ng buhay.”

(At 9:23 p.m., the victim sought help to be taken to the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing. He was brought to the hospital, where he passed away.)

The victim’s cause of death is asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

“Tumatawag ang kapatid ko, pinaparusahan siya, humihingi siya ng tulong (my brother called and told us he was being punished and asking for help),” said Cristel Magat, the victim’s sister.

The following day, Magat’s family filed a complaint to the Pasay police, which led to the removal of 13 police officers for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Of the total involved police officers, six were from the Pasay Police Substation 5, which covers the convenience store; six others were from the South Police District’s mobile force battalion; and one belonged to the regional force battalion.

Seven police officers were assigned to Pasay as part of the augmentation force.

“Through CCTVs, nakita talaga namin yung tunay na pangyayari. Actually, kasi dinapaan nila yun. nag pupumiglas, spempre poposasan [kaya] dinapaan nila. Most likely yun yung dahilan bakit siya na suffocate, hindi naman ibigsabihin na sinakal talaga. Pwede madaganan sa leeg,” Sesto said.

(We saw what really happened through CCTV footage. Actually, he was lying faced down. When he tried to break free, the police pinned him down since they had to handcuff him. Most likely, that’s the reason for his suffocation. It doesn't necessarily mean he was strangled. It's possible that pressure was applied to his neck.)

The Pasay Police has yet to release the said CCTV footage, but Sesto promised to reveal the truth.

“Wala kaming pinapanigan dito (we’re neutral on this issue),” he said.

The involved police officers are facing charges for maltreatment of prisoners and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

They are set to be taken into custody at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig while the investigation is ongoing.

GMA Integrated News is reaching out to the involved police officers for comment.

“Masaya po kami kasi nabigyan na ng hustisya yung kapatid ko (we’re happy that my brother attained justice),” Cristel said.

When asked if they thought there was a foul play, Cristel said, “meron po. Laging siyang nagmumulto samin eh. Nanghihingi siya ng tulong, ayun, nasagot na. Nasibak na yung mga gumagawa sa kanyan niyan.”

(There was foul play. He keeps haunting us, asking for help. His pleas were answered. Those involved police were removed from their post.)

“At least nakamit namin kasi po masakit sa amin ang nangyari kay John Paul,” she added.

(At least we attained justice because what happened to John Paul really hurt us.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News