PNP rules out rubout in death of drug suspect in Cainta

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Southern Tagalog region on Tuesday said that there was no rubout and torture in last week's police operation conducted against Richard Santillan, the security aide of former Biliran representative Glenn Chiong.

According to John Consulta's report on Super Radyo dzBB, PNP medico-legal Dr. Pier Paul Carpio said that the results on the examination of Santillan's cadaver prove the statement of the police.

PNP-CALABARZON, iginiit na hindi rub out at hindi rin t-in-orture ang napatay na si Richard Santillan sa Cainta, Rizal. | via John Consulta

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 18, 2018

Police said Santillan was a member of Hi-way Boys Group allegedly involved in illegal drugs and car theft in Rizal.

Santillan's SUV sped off even after it was flagged down by the Highway Patrol Group in Cainta, Rizal, according to their initial report.

Carpio presented the cadaver to the media, showing that Santillan's face and back were clear, belying claims that he was tortured.

He said that a wound in Santillan's back was caused by a post-mortem incision he has made in order to take a shrapnel out as part of the examination.

Carpio also refuted the claim of Santillan's camp that his toenail was removed as part of the torture.

The doctor clarified that the wound at his foot was caused by a nearly missed gunshot when he got off the vehicle during the encounter.

A total of 19 gunshot wounds were found in the body.

More importantly, it was noted that there was no evidence of tattooing or an intermediate-range gunshot that was found.

Tattooing will manifest if the gunman's distance to the target is less than one meter.

The result means that the cops were shooting Santillan from afar during the encounter.

Furthermore, Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon regional director, said that Santillan's vehicle was the target of the police operation because of documented intel reports that it was being used to transport illegal drugs.

The vehicle was owned by a certain "alias Barry" who was identified to be part of the group Highway Boys, according to police.

A full-blown police report on the incident is expected to be released in the coming days.  —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News