Bacolod cop chief, 9 others face torture raps

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  – The director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and nine other policemen are facing criminal and administrative charges for allegedly violating the Anti-Torture Law.

The charges were filed against BCPO director Senior Superintedent Ricardo de la Paz, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod head Chief Inspector Ernor Melgarejo, Senior Police Officer 1 Rosendo Bersal and Police Officer 2 Edney Matillano, who were relieved from their posts in October.

Charges were also filed against Superintendents Lazaro Sumague of the Negros Occidental Police crime laboratory and Alexander Ermeo of the Intelligence Branch, Inspectors Jovy Cabcaban of the Women and Children’s Complaints Desk, Homer Vargas of the investigation branch and Jose Mulleta, chief of Station 3 and Chief Inspector Edyll Feirrera.

The Office of the Ombudsman has given the respondents 10 days to reply to the charges, while the city government of Bacolod has created a legal team led by legal officer Joselito Bayatan to assist the charged policemen.

The charges were filed by the suspects in the robbery and rape of a foreigner in Barangay Banago in Bacolod City in September last year.

The suspects – Joemar Agdana, 18, Henry Bañez, 21 and Crisinciano Catague, 23, – all of Barangay Banago, initially admitted to the crime but retracted their statements the following day.

The three claimed that the policemen tortured and forced them to admit the crime. The allegation led to the investigation by the CIDG.

The families of the suspects sought the help of the Commission on Human rights that assisted them in filing the charges.