5 employees of rehab center face murder rap over patient’s death

Autopsy result shows victim died from blunt traumatic injury to the abdomen after he was allegedly beaten by respondents

FIVE employees of the 180 Degrees Rehabilitation Center at Barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City have been charged with murder for their alleged involvement in the death of a patient inside the facility on Jan. 7, 2021.

The case against Nolie Darato Dolotina, Limuel Cabodbod Noval, Johane Porgella Cabatingin, Felix Gantuangco Algura Jr. and Rommel Lloyd Aradanas Fortich was filed on Thursday,

Jan. 21, 2021.

The facility administration told police that Julius James Sison died after falling from the second floor. Sison had lots of bruises, a black eye and a cut in his leg.

But when the results of his autopsy came out last week, it was learned that Sison died from a blunt traumatic injury to the abdomen, said Cpl. Glenn Bordalba, the assistant investigator in the case.

Based on the statement of a witness, Sison was beaten by the respondents.

The victim had gone berserk, carrying a toothbrush with a sharpened tip, demanding to be let out of the facility.

Bordalba said the five accused beat him up when they couldn’t subdue him.

Police were unable to secure any footage from the facility’s security camera which, according to the manager, had been broken since December.

Although the rehab center did not cooperate in the first few days of the investigation, it eventually helped the police, which is why they were able to file the case against the five employees, Bordalba said.

Bordalba said the respondents will have to release a statement to the prosecutor’s office. Otherwise, a warrant for their arrest will be issued, he said.