Fatality in Cainta ‘shootout’ tortured — PAO forensics chief

MANILA, Philippines — The security aide of lawyer and senatorial candidate Glenn Chong could have been tortured before he was killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in Cainta, Rizal last week, according to the forensics chief of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

“We saw signs of torture. There were a total of 63 wounds in various parts of his body. There were fracture and puncture injuries... in the head, chest and abdomen, which could indicate torture,” Erwin Erfe told reporters at the Department of Justice yesterday.

Erfe said some of the gunshot wounds in Richard Santillan’s body were inflicted after he died.

He said Santillan’s puncture wounds were an indication that the victim was stabbed with a bladed weapon.

Erfe said there were also signs that Santillan was hit on the head with a hard object.

Santillan suffered 18 gunshot wounds in the head and body. His female companion also died in the incident.

PAO chief Persida Rueda–Acosta said they would file charges against police officers involved in the supposed shootout.

The PAO asked for the police report and records on the operation led by Senior Inspector John Russel Barnachea.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde assured Santillan’s family that police officers involved in the operation would be held accountable if proven that irregularities were committed.

The chiefs of the Rizal and Cainta police and 18 of their men had been relieved from their posts to pave the way for an impartial investigation.

Santillan was reportedly driving Chong’s car at around 2 a.m. when he allegedly figured in an encounter with law enforcers who were looking for a stolen vehicle.

Police said Santillan yielded firearms, an explosive device and a sachet of shabu.

Chong disputed the police report, saying Santillan went to Cainta for a gift-giving activity for poor children.

“It’s not a carjacked vehicle. That’s my car... (Police investigators) said they recovered firearms used during the shootout, but... he only had one licensed firearm,”Chong said.

He said the incident was not an encounter as the police claimed.

“This is a clear message to me. I have no enemies except for the Comelec (Commission on Elections) and Smartmatic. This is the only angle I can see... They want to scare me by hurting the people who are close to me,” he said.

Chong testified in congressional inquiries on alleged fraud during the 2016 elections.