2 San Juan cops axed for beating detainee to death

MANILA, Philippines - The acting chief of the investigation division of the San Juan police and one of his men were relieved yesterday for allegedly beating a detainee to death last July 27.

Inspector Nicanor Lambino and Police Officer 2 Bernard Lucom were disarmed and assigned to the city police’s holding center by Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel.

The relatives of detainee Rey Dumaplin, 40, went to San Juan police chief Senior Superintendent Joselito Daniel Thursday, saying they plan to file charges against Lambino and Lucom.

The two policemen are accused of beating Dumaplin, a helper, and his co-worker Andy Ramos in their detention cell last July 26 in order to coerce a confession out of them. The two men denied stealing P170,000 and five cell phones from their employer, Salud Reyes.

Dumaplin was taken to the hospital after his fellow detainees failed to wake him up the next day. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Ramos was charged with theft but the prosecutor ordered him released after he presented an affidavit of desistance signed by Reyes.

Lambino and Lucom invoked their right to remain silent on the charges against them, according to Senior Police Officer 4 Geminer Tingne.

The two policemen will also be charged administratively, Laurel said.

 â€œLet the ax fall where it may,” he said.