Detainee hangs self inside Malate police station

The entire personnel of the Malate police station found themselves in hot water after a male detainee was discovered lifeless while hanging from a cable wire inside the detention cell yesterday morning.

The already stiff body of Fernando Peywan, 28, of 1214 President Quirino Avenue, Malate, was reportedly discovered by Inspector Rodel Borbe when he checked on the condition of the detainee, according to police station chief Superintendent Hilario Orallo. The victim was immediately rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Officer-on-case SPO3 Steve Casimiro said the victim was clad in white shirt and red short pants when found. A tattoo of a dragon was noted on his left arm. Casimiro also recovered a yard-long black cable wire which the victim allegedly used to hang himself.

According to Orallo, Peywan was arrested Monday night at the corner of Adriatico and Vito Cruz streets in Malate by patrolling operatives of the station anti-illegal drugs (SAID) unit. Peywan yielded a knife when frisked, Orallo said.

When brought to the police station, Peywan was detained at the second-floor cell of the station for custodial investigation, Orallo said.

Casimiro wondered why Peywan was detained alone at the second-floor cell instead of the usual detention cell at the first floor where other detainees are locked up. Casimiro, during his ocular inspection of the second-floor cell, noted that the cell is being used as storage area where discarded materials of the police station are kept.

“There seems to be laxity on the part of the arresting team. Why did they place the victim on that cell where he can get hold of things to hurt himself?” Casimiro said.

He said concerned station personnel could be held liable whether the victim really committed suicide or was intentionally killed.

Casimiro is also checking on the criminal records of the victim.