PNP probing claim Bulacan CSU members beat up persons of interest in massacre

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday said police are already investigating claims that Civil Security Unit (CSU) members beat up persons of interest in the Bulacan massacre.

Dela Rosa said at a media briefing in Camp Crame that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has included the allegation in its probe.

A woman claimed seeing  Carmelino Ibañes and Ronald Pacinos alias Inggo and a certain Tony come out of the Carlos's residence last Tuesday in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, right about the time of the killings.

In her affidavit, the witness also claimed that members of Bulacan's CSU later picked up the three men and beat them up.

Ibañes is currently in the custody of the Bulacan police. Pacinos and Tony have yet to surface.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa clarified that CSUs do not have police powers and are not allowed to bear firearms and arrest suspects.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, did not provide any updates on the ongoing investigation into the killing of Estrella Carlos, her mother Auring and her three children. — LG/KVD, GMA News