No bail for Manila cops in torture video

MANILA, Philippines - A station commander and six other members of the Manila Police District (MPD) were formally charged before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) yesterday for the alleged torture of a robbery suspect in March 2010.

In a three-page complaint, Senior Assistant State Phillip Kimpo recommended no bail for Police Superintendent Rogelio Rosales Jr., former chief of MPD Station 11; SPO1 Joselito Binayug ,SPO3 Joaquin de Guzman, SPO1 Rodolfo Ong Jr., SPO1 Dante Bautista, PO1 Nonito Binayug and PO1 Rex Binayug.

The seven were charged with torture – a violation of Republic Act 9745 or the Act Penalizing Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which carries a life term.

“There is reasonable ground to believe that the offense charged has been committed and that the accused are probably guilty. That the accused were informed the complaint and the evidence submitted against them and were given the opportunity to submit the controverting evidence,” Kimpo said in the complaint.

The case has yet to be raffled off.         

The complaint alleged that on or about March 5 to 6, 2010, the accused “conspired, confederated and mutually helped one another in committing the crime of torture” against Darius Evangelista, a robbery suspect, at Pier 2 in Tondo, Manila.

The alleged torture also took place in different rooms at the Meisic Police Station 11 in Binondo, Manila. Three detainees claim to have heard the torture. A cell phone video of the torture was featured in ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.