Inmate died of blunt force trauma

CEBU, Philippines - Autopsy results showed that the detainee who was earlier reported to have died under mysterious circumstance in the Fuente Police Station died of blunt trauma injuries.

Dr. Nestor Sator of the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 said several contusions were found on the body of Joven Tejano, 32, which showed that he was beaten with blunt objects such as wood or steel, among others.

“Pinakagrabe nga contusion sa iyang chest. Daghan sa iyang ribs nangabali, seven sa left ug eight sa right. Naapektuhan sad iyang baga ug atay, naa’y laceration,” Sator told The FREEMAN.

Sator said clear contusions were also found in the victim’s abdominal area and buttocks.

“Mura’g gi-paddle ang iyang lubot. Bun-og sad iyang mga bukton, naa’y mga kinuptan,” Sator added.

The doctor said the victim’s fractured ribs were enough to kill him.

“Sakit ‘na inig ginhawa, fatal ‘na,” he said.

When asked if the victim might have been possibly tortured, Sator said the injuries appear to have been inflicted out of rage of the assailants.

Sator said apart from small contusion on the victim’s lower extremities, not a single wound was found in the head.

“Mura’g tripping sa mga nagbuhat. Wala nila bunali ang ulo, abi tingale nila dili mamatay kung sa lawas ra,” he said.

Tejano, a resident of sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba, was found dead inside the female detention cell of the police station where he was placed alone. PO3 Achilles Sanchez discovered the body around 12:30 a.m.

Tejano was tagged as suspect in a burglary near the Abellana National High School last Sunday. He was reportedly caught on a security camera.

Tejano was arrested last Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Barangay Sambag 2 by Rafael Enriquez, one of the civilian volunteers the police call police trackers.

Enriquez said he did nothing which might have led to Tejano’s death.

Due to the incident, Cebu City Police Office director relieved the police station chief, Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes.

Anita, the mother of the victim, went to the police station and talked with Bastes about the incident. She declined to give comments or answer questions from the media.

Just last Monday, a 30-year-old inmate was found dead inside the solitary confinement cell of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Ricky Salidaga, 30, was found dead, hanging from a blanket tied to the bars of the cell.

Governor Gwendolyn ordered for a probe on the incident as the family suspected foul play and that he was actually mauled by fellow inmates.

Jail officers said the victim, who was detained last December year on robbery charges, had been complaining of family problems.

Last June 11, a former school official detained on charges of estafa was also found hanging by his neck in the Cebu City Jail.

Samuel Mabida, 50, a former dean of a school in Dipolog City, was reportedly pushed to commit suicide because of depression over the charges he was facing. — /BRP (FREEMAN)