Albayalde orders probe of detainee’s death; five police officers relieved

Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has directed the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to investigate the death of detainee arrested during a campaign against street loiterers after the autopsy report of the PNP Crime Laboratory contradicted

with the claim of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

The death of 25-year-old Genesis Argoncillo sparked public outrage after he was allegedly arrested for being a “tambay,” a violation of a city ordinance, in Novaliches, Quezon City, last June 15. He was allegedly beaten black and blue inside the QCPD Station 4 detention cell and died four days later.

Citing a report from QCPD Director Joselito Esquivel Jr., Albayalde had earlier said that Argoncillo died due to “shortness of breath” since the cell where he was locked up has been overcrowded with inmates. He was the fourth inmate who died in the detention cell of the QCPD Station in a month.

But a PNP Crime Laboratory autopsy report on Argoncillo showed that he died from “multiple blunt force trauma” in the neck, head, chest and upper extremities. This contradicted the report of Esquivel. The autopsy report was certified by Superintendent Joseph Palmero, PNP Crime Laboratory medico-legal chief.

Argoncillo's body was taken to the PNP headquarters after the funeral parlor where he was initially taken refused to conduct an autopsy on his body due to the lack of manpower.

The conflicting reports prompted Albayalde to direct the NCRPO, headed by Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, to conduct an investigation to get to the bottom of the case.

5 cops relieved Pending a result of the investigation, Eleazar ordered the relief of Superintendent Carlito Grijaldo, QCPD Station 4 commander, and duty jailer Police Officer 3 Dennis Saño effective Thursday.

Esquivel further said that three more officers who were on duty on the day of the incident were relieved from their posts, although he did not identify them.

The victim's family claimed that Argoncillo, who they fondly called “Tisoy,” was standing in front of a store near their house in Barangay Sauyo when he was nabbed during an anti-tambay drive of the police.

He was reportedly waiting for the cellphone load he bought from the store when the police chanced upon, and arrested him.

A social media user @econcepcion likened Argoncillo's case to Oplan Tokhang and the death of teenager Kian Lloyd delos Santos, who was shot dead in a police operation last year.

“Bibili lang ng load, dinampot, pinatay. This is like Kian all over again @ pnppio,” @econcepcion said.

Barangay reports showed Argoncillo was arrested for violation of the anti-loitering ordinance, but his offense was later upgraded by police to alarm and scandal after he allegedly resisted arrest and started creating a scene.

Grijaldo said Argoncillo was arrested for alarm and scandal after operatives chanced upon his group creating trouble in Barangay Sauyo.

Senators seek probe Meanwhile, senators called on the PNP leadership to act on the death of Argoncillo and not to stand idly by and simply wait for the QCPD to hand its findings.

They made the call as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started its own investigation on the death of Argoncillo.

“I urge and call on the PNP leadership to reconsider its decision to simply ‘stand by’ the findings of the QCPD on the death of Genesis Argoncillo, and to, instead, fully investigate this matter,” Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on his Twitter account. Escudero said he finds it “ironic, quite frankly” that the PNP higher-ups are now simply “standing by” on the issue.

“Please do not wait for us to do your job for you,” the senator warned.

Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV slammed the death of Argoncillo, saying another poor person became a casualty of a PNP operation.

“Tumambay lang sa tindahan, nanonood ng video sa cellphone, inaresto dahil hindi naka-shirt. Ngayon nakaburol na (He was just standing at a store, watching videos on his cell phone, arrested because he wore no shirt. Now his remains lie in state),” Aquino said in a statement.

“Napakasakit nito sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at napakasakit na nangyayari ito sa ating bayan. Nakakabahala pa na paiba-iba ang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng kaniyang pagkamatay, (This is so difficult for the family he left behind. And it is very difficult to accept for our nation. And it’s so alarming that the cops themselves are offering different declarations on the reasons of his death),” he said.

“Mahirap na naman ang biktima. Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad (Another poor has become a casualty. Almost all that were arrested are poor and the police operations being conducted in poorer communities),” added the senator.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also said he cannot accept the circumstances behind Argoncillo’s senseless death.

Ejercito said the police’s enforcement of the “anti-tambay” policy should be implemented on “a case-to-case basis.”

“Though I understand the President why he thought of this policy, why he gave such order and that we have to make sure that the environment is not conducive to criminals and lawless elements,” Ejercito said in a recent press conference.

“But I’m sure the barangay, the police, and other law enforcement authorities would know already when individuals are planning something bad or not,” he said.

Two suspects identified

As this developed, the QCPD released Thursday the names of detainees tagged in the death of Argoncillo.

They were identified as Justine Mercado, 23, who is facing charges of concealing deadly weapon; and Richard Bautista, 33, who is detained for illegal gambling. Police said both are members of Sputnik Gang.

Based on the progress report from QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, three witnesses gave a sworn statement that the two suspects conspired in mauling the victim.

But family members of Argoncillo still strongly believe that policemen should also be blamed on what happened to him.

Police said that based on the statements of the witnesses, Tisoy always ran around inside the overcrowded jail, accidentally stepping on his fellow inmates which irked the suspects.

The cops added that they tried transferring Tisoy to other police station but the victim allegedly resisted and went wild.

In a press briefing at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, Tisoy's sister, Marilou, said she does not believe the statement of the police officer that the inmates were the only ones who beat his brother.

“Ang sabi ng mga pulis, ililipat daw nila ang kapatid ko sa Station 2. Ayaw daw magpalipat, nagwawala. Pero gustung-gusto ng kapatid ko magpalipat kasi hirap na siya doon. Wala siyang tulog. May kasalanan din ang mga pulis kasi nilabas nila ang kapatid ko para ilipat. Sa labas siya nabugbog (Police said they planned to transfer my brother to Station 2. He allegedly refused and went wild.

But my brother wants the transfer as he suffered much at Station 4 as he can’t sleep. The police should be blamed for taking out my brother as it was outside the cell where he was mauled),” she said Tisoy's aunt, Irma Aducul, who watched over her nephew's third day wake at a basketball court near them, said that on June 19, Marilou visited his brother to bring some food, but noticed that his brother was not inside the cell.

The police officer told them that Tisoy was sleeping.

Feeling uneasy, Marilou insisted to at least get a glance of his brother. That's when police told her that they rushed Tisoy to Novaliches District Hospital as he collapsed.

Upon arriving at the hospital, she was told that Tisoy was already dead. (With reports from Alexandria San Juan and Hannah L. Torregoza)