Navotas cops deny torturing murder suspects

Navotas police personnel denied that they tortured two murder suspects to force them to confess to the crime, according to the "24 Oras" report of Jun Veneracion on Thursday.

Navotas City Police chief P/Col. Renante Pinuela said the police had nothing to do with the wounds that one of the suspects suffered.

“Alam naman natin sa jail natin masyadong masikip, minsan nagkakainitan, mga hindi magandang pangyayari, nagsisiga-sigaan,” he said.

(We all know that our jail is too crowded, sometimes there are arguments, and unpleasant incidents happen.)

The two suspects were allegedly involved in a shooting incident in the city last November 3 wherein two individuals died.

The police maintained that it has strong evidence against the suspects based on the CCTV footage they found before and after the incident happened.

One of the suspects, alias “Dave”, was arrested on November 9. On the same day, he provided an extrajudicial confession in front of a lawyer to admit to the crime and identify the masterminds of the crime.

“Dave” named two barangay officials who allegedly paid them P30,000 to kill the two victims.

“Kaya gusto nilang palabasin na tinorture ng kapulisan natin, pinilit. Kasi once na ma-release at ma-dismiss na yung kaso, automatic mawawala na yung anggulo na may nag-utos eh,” said Pinuela.

(That is why they want to make it appear that they were tortured and forced by our police. Because once the case is released and dismissed, the angle that someone ordered the crime will automatically be disregarded.)

Following his inquest on November 11, “Dave” underwent a physical examination at the Navotas City Hospital. But there were no injuries or wounds found on his body.

However, “Dave” disputed the medical report, claiming that the police instructed him to wear a cap. Hence, his wound on the head was not also seen when he gave his extrajudicial confession.

“Sana po yung mga nag-torture sa akin managot din po sila. Kasi halos mamatay-matay na po ako sa ginawa nila,” said “Dave.”

(I hope those who tortured me will also be held accountable. Because I almost died from what they did.)

The investigating police, on the other hand, maintained that their conscience is clean.

A lawyer acted as the complainant with the PNP Internal Affairs Service on behalf of “Dave” and the other arrested suspect. 

“Haharapin na lang kasi trabaho lang ginawa namin. Nag-conduct lang kami ng investigation, yung procedure, para yung mga biktima mabigyan ng hustisya,” said investigator P/SSG. Sammy LLanderal. 

(We will just face it because we were just doing our job. We only conducted an investigation, following the procedure, so that the victims can be given justice.) 

The PNP Internal Affair Service is now taking steps to obtain sworn statements from the two alleged victims of police brutality. It guaranteed a fair and thorough investigation. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News