Cavite police finds probable cause against Carmona ‘torture cop’

The Cavite Provincial Police Office, in its report submited Friday to the Calabarzon Regional Police Office, said that it found probable cause against sacked Carmona police station Commander Chief Inspector Jigger Noceda, who was alleged to have tortured a suspect.

Cavite Provincial Police Director Snr. Supt. Jonnel Estomo said that, given their findings, they recommended a pre-charge evaluation against Noceda.

The alleged abuse was recorded on video, which was sent by an anonymous concerned citizen to the Cavite Police earlier this week.

In the video, Noceda could be seen striking an alleged snatcher as Noceda demanded the thief return a cell phone he supposedly stole. Also seen on the video were PO2 Danilo Ang and PO1 Bernard Amadure, both of whom looked on as Noceda manhandled the suspect.

Noceda, Ang, and Amadure were subsequently relieved from their posts and were restricted to camp.

Estomo explained that the two lower-ranking police officers were also liable, “kasi, supposed to be, yung nangyari na yun ay pinigilan nila ang kanilang hepe. Kung 'di man nila pinigilan, dapat sila mismo ang nag-report."

Neither Ang nor Amadure would speak with GMA News, while Noceda earlier explained that he was merely “disciplining” the suspect.



The alleged victim

The Cavite police identified the suspect Noceda was allegedly roughing-up as Marlon Manoman, who was safe and was being encouraged by relatives to give police investigators a statement.

According to the Cavite police report, Manoman was brought to the Carmona police station sometime January 19, 2015 after Manoman was alleged to have stolen a cellular phone and a necklace from a male victim who was napping inside a Carmona trading company's office.

The trading company's owner, George Zafe, told GMA news that the suspect being abused in the video looked very much like Manoman, who lived just across the street from his place of business and whom he considered a friend.

Zafe added that he was the one who called the police after Manoman allegedly stole the victim's property. But Zafe later asked the victim to forgive Manoman, and paid the victim a sum for his trouble.

Marlon has since left Carmona to find work elsewhere. "Wala naman siyang sinabing sinaktan siya o pinalo siya nung gabi na yun," said Zafe. — DVM, GMA News