PNP Internal Affairs Service investigates 'secret cell issue'

The PNP-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) on Wednesday has also started a probe on the incident as they expressed doubt that lack of space was the reason the MPD Station 1 created the controversial secret cell.

GMA News' Ivan Mayrina on "24 Oras" reported that PNP-IAS chief Atty. Alfegar Triambulo said dismissed Station 1 chief Supt. Robert Domingo committed an irregular act by allowing the hidden cell.

"Dapat alam na' yan ay detention cell. E kung kulang sa space, inilagay doon tapos hindi naman in-allow yung visitor tapos hindi nire-record, iba ang ibig sabihin nun. Irregular yun," Triambulo said.

The PNP-IAS official earlier said police officers involved could be charged with grave misconduct or serious irregularity.

The cell was discovered during a surprise inspection conducted by the Commission on Human Rights last week wherein 11 individuals were detained.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has directed an audit of jail cells of all police stations in the country.

The move came after the discovery of a secret cell at the Manila Police District Station 1.

He also prohibited his policemen from creating secret cells.

"Kaya 'pag sumubra na yung huli niyo sige, doon niyo na lang itali yung niyo dun sa mga poste, poste doon. 'Wag na kayo dumiskarte ng kulungan dyan," he said.

GMA News interviewed "Aling Flor" whose youngest son was among those detained at the hidden cell.

Flor said she had not seen her son for four days, noting the policemen tried to extort P30,000 from them for her son's freedom.

"Yang bunso ko ganyan din, apat na araw ko nga yan di ko nakita kala ko tinapon na yan," she said. "Yun pala doon sa likod yung may cabinet, hinihingan kami dun ng trenta. E ano ibibigay ko?"

Domingo has already denied claims they tried to extort money from the inmates' families.

He also said the families are aware that their relatives are detained at the hidden cell.

GMA News was also able to interview Grace de Guzman, who was one of the inmates found by the CHR in its surprise inspection of MPD Station 1.

De Guzman said she has been detained at the police station since April 20, noting that the cops never tried to extort from her.

"Hindi po wala akong sinasabing ganoon dahil 'di ko naman alam kung magkano," she said.

According to the PNP-IAS, dismissal from the service is a possible punishment if the policemen are found responsible for creating the so-called secret cell.

The former office of the station's drug enforcement unit has since been abandoned while the secret cell has been closed. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BAP, GMA News