Cops undergo seminar on handling detainees
A total of 47 custodial officers undergo a two-day seminar on proper management of custodial facility.
The seminar, which started yesterday and will end today, is aimed at training cops on proper handling of arrested persons in line with the anti-loiterers or antitambay campaign of the present administration.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) chief Superintendent Ryan Devaras said this is a preventive measure to avoid mishandling of detainees.
Devaras gave emphasis that rights of the detainees should be observed as they are considered innocent until proven guilty in court and preservation of their lives is a must.
“This is to do away anang naa mamatay sa sulod sa custodial facilities. We should be proactive (since) they (detainees) are still considered innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
On June 18, policeman from Quezon City Station 4 picked up one Genesis Argoncillo, 22, during an antiloitering operation. However, he was mauled to death by fellow detainees following a dispute with the cell’s “leader.”
Police Regional Office in Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas has reiterated the statement of Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde that cops will not arrest those who are not violating any ordinance.
Police who will pick up mere loiterers or people who are waiting for taxicabs will be charged for unlawful arrest.
Participants of the seminar are custodial officers from the 11 police stations of CCPO and personnel from the headquarters.
They will be refreshed on the proper handling of detainees before detention which include body-frisking and medical procedures.
The participants will be taught how to disperse trouble that may arise in over-crowded cells, which is a common situation of most jails in Cebu City.
“As much as possible we want to do away with those kinds of incident. That’s why we have this kind of training at least standard ang atong pag-handle sa mga detainee. Train-on unsaon pag-deal sa crowded nga facilities, unsay mga device himuon, techniques nga himuon aron nga maka-monitor,” he said.
The main speakers in the seminar are Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-7 Regional Director Arvin Odron and a representative from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Custodial facilities are temporary detention cells of arrested persons in the different police stations.
The detainees will be later transferred to a proper jail facility managed by BJMP after a commitment order is issued by the court.