Death of ‘Shoplifter’ Mall officials cooperate with NBI investigation

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Gaisano Metro Colon Branch went to the National Bureau of Investigation office yesterday to show their full cooperation in the investigation on the death of a 23-year old man who was accused of shoplifting in their mall.

Cerwin Eviota, Gaisano Metro’s spokesperson, also said they informed NBI-7 Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat that they asked the agency of the security guards who arrested Mario Alfie Ducayag to dig deeper in their investigation.

Reportedly, five security guards were suspended after the incident.

Ducayag was allegedly mauled by the security guards after he was accused of shoplifting.

Eviota said that it is the responsibility of the security guards to implement security measures and interrogate apprehended persons humanely.

Primo Cadampog, Commission on Human Rights investigator said under the Constitution, every person has the right to life.

The apprehended person should be given due process and opportunity to answer and mauling should be avoided.

Earlier, the family of the Ducayag, a resident of Tuyan, Naga City asked for assistance from the NBI after they were not convinced by the  result of the autopsy conducted by the PNP medico-legal officer.

The PNP medico-legal officer ruled that the cause of death was “asphyxia due to bleeding pulmonary tuberculosis.”

However, the findings of the re-autopsy conducted by the NBI was different.

NBI medico-legal officer Dr. Rene Cam said the cause of death was “due to traumatic nape injury due to hyper extension of the neck.”

The vertebra of the spine of the victim was dislocated particularly cervical vertebra (C2) and cervical vertebra (C3).

“It would be more on the traumatic injury rather than the asphyxia because the asphyxia did not affect both lungs. It only affected the left lung,” Cam said.

Cam also added that since the victim died immediately, it could not be asphyxia that caused it but the dislocation of the neck because it compresses the spinal cord and could affect the respiratory center.

He also explained that there was sufficient force applied at the back of the victim causing the spine to be dislocated.

According to Cam’s initial findings, the contusion or bruise at the back measures 13 by 10 centimeters and linear in appearance that suggests a wood or nighstick  was used.

Contrary to the claim of the PNP that the case was pathological, Cam said the re-autopsy showed that the cause of death can be determined just by grossly looking at the tissue and that there is no need for any pathological examination.

“If the second autopsy has more findings that can really explain the cause of death, then it would be the re-autopsy that would supervene the first autopsy,” Cam said.

Director Pagatpat said they will be using Cam’s autopsy report in conducting further investigation on Ducayag’s death.

They will be still investigating if the victim really stole items from the store.

But Pagatpat said even if the shoplifting really occurred, it was not enough reason to kill Ducagay.

“We are vigorously pursuing the investigation. In fact, that was my instruction to the agent yesterday and hopefully we can come up a very good result in few days time,” he stated.

Pagatpat added that they are trying their best to find eye witnesses.

They are also urging the management to allow their employees to give their side on the incident.

“Lahat ng ito ay para sa hustisya at katotohanan,” Pagatpat explained adding that do not intend to outperform the PNP or anyone.— (FREEMAN)