Hunt on for cop linked to fatal beating

Manila police investigators are coordinating with the Aviation Command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the surrender of one of their members who allegedly conspired with several barangay tanods to beat up three teenage boys.

The incident resulted in the death of Bernardo Bandejas, a 15-year-old out-of-school youth in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

Police Officer 2 Julio Issey Marquez was identified by the two surviving teens as one of several people who took turns beating them after they were caught with a stolen mountain bike.

Responding policemen failed to find Marquez at his house in San Andres Bukid, indicating his intention to run away from the law, said Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr. of the Manila Police District homicide section.

Police instead arrested Joel Hizo, 44, a barangay tanod identified by the victims as among those who beat them up.

Investigators found that barangay tanods of San Andres Bukid nabbed the three teenagers Wednesday night.

The stolen bike allegedly held by the three boys reportedly belonged to Marquez’s brother, identified as Jaime Yancy.

In their sworn affidavits, the two minors said the tanods took turns beating them with their bamboo canes. Drunk bystanders also slapped and punched them, with the tanods’ consent.

The victims were then made to crawl for more than five meters on the street while the tanods hit them with their canes. It was at this point that Marquez, known in the area as policeman “Boy Tolentino,” and his brother arrived and started hitting them with his gun.

After their ordeal, the victims said they were sent home, but Bandejas collapsed and was rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila. He died Thursday night while undergoing treatment for massive head injuries.

One of the surviving minors sustained three broken front teeth, while the other had a swollen face and a neck wound inflicted by a knife.      — Nestor Etolle