MANILA, Philippines — At least 55 inmates have died due to overcrowding in detention facilities of the Manila Police District (MPD) since July 2016, an official said yesterday.
In an interview, MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan said the deaths of the detainees were recorded since the administration launched an intensified campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes.
Anduyan said the Sta. Cruz police recorded the highest number of deaths with 18 detainees followed by the Sampaloc police with nine; Malate police, nine; Raxabago police, seven; Sta. Mesa police, four; Meisic police, three; Abad Santos police, two; and Moriones, Ermita and Sta. Ana police stations with one death each.
No deaths were recorded at the Pandacan police station.
Anduyan said the common cause of deaths of the detainees were poor health and sanitation due to congested detention cells. Other inmates died after they were beaten by fellow inmates, he said.
Police said they did not receive any complaints from the families of the detainees.
On June 18, Johnny Vallente, a security guard, died from heat exhaustion due to overcrowding at the Meisic police station.
Police said Vallente complained of shortness of breath and died while being taken to the hospital.
The suspect was held on charges of estafa and disobedience to a person in authority on June 6.
His brother, Nicolas, told The STAR they were waiting for the results of the autopsy on Vallente.
Nicolas believed that Vallente was beaten up in jail since he suffered a bruised eye.
Anduyan said they would conduct an investigation on the cause of Vallente’s death.
He called on the Manila regional trial courts to decongest police detention facilities by expediting the release of commitment orders.
Deaths of detainees under probe – CHR
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched an investigation on the deaths of crime suspects in police custody.
The CHR said it is looking into the death of an inmate of the Pasay City police station on April 11.
The detainee, Domingo delos Santos, reportedly died due to overcrowding in the jail.
Seven other detainees also passed out and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The CHR said an inspection of the detention facility showed that the lack of ventilation resulted in poor conditions of the inmates.
“The Pasay police station was able to address the problem to avoid a repeat of the incident,” the CHR said.
Last week, the human rights body initiated a probe on the death of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo, 25, in the detention cell of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) following his arrest in line with the government’s anti-tambay drive.
Police claimed that Argoncillo was beaten to death by two other detainees.
CHR Commissioner Leah Armamento said the police officers involved may still be held criminally liable as Argoncillo died while he was in their custody.
Aside from Argoncillo’s case, Armamento said they were also looking into the deaths of four other QCPD inmates recently.
They were Jeffrey Norio, Niño Cruz, Paulo Lopez and Alex Andaman. – With Janvic Mateo