More explanations

The police stand by everything they have said so far with regards to the events leading to the death of Genesis Argoncillo.

You will recall that Supt. Carlito Grijaldo, commander of Quezon City Police Station 4, said the injuries sustained by Argoncillo were self-inflicted. He also said that that Argoncillo suffered from mental illness, something the family vehemently denies.

Then according to the QCPD, Argoncillo died because difficulty in breathing brought about by the horribly congested jail cell. An initial examination by a doctor said there were no visible physical injuries to Argoncillo’s body.

But his death certificate totally states the opposite, indicating numerous bruises on the upper part of his body, most probably caused by blunt force trauma.

The latest addition to the storyline is that Argoncillo was beaten to death by two inmates, who are now being charged with murder. This comes several days after he was arrested.

Aren’t the jail guards aware of what is happening? Just the same, the police are sticking to their stories.

So what happened?

Argoncillo was arrested for alarm and scandal.

He was then thrown in jail, where he was still unruly. This is when he was beaten up, where he complained of difficulty in breathing. Or did he complain of difficulty in breathing, where he became unruly hence was beaten up? Or was he beaten up right away, became unruly then had difficulty in breathing?

Remember that he was only arrested for alarm and scandal. Yet he found himself in the same place as killers.

Five policemen have been relieved to allow investigations into the death of Argoncillo. They should be held liable because Argoncillo died while in their custody, for a minor offense at that.

But if the police are not changing their statements, and have named two suspects in the killing of Argoncillo, they should at least get their stories straight.

This is the problem with police stations apparently having their own interpretations of Duterte’s order. Duterte himself has come out fuming that he did not order the arrest of “tambays,” clarifying that if those who refused to go back into their homes after being “asked” by the police, then they would be brought to Pasig, their hands bound and... well, you get the picture.

I’m just glad the police did not literally follow the words of Duterte, otherwise the Pasig river would be floating with bodies.

Some lawmakers are once again calling out this latest campaign as anti-poor.

Where indeed can the poor while away the time?

They do not have the luxury of space, where salas and living rooms could be eked out. Outside is where they can stretch out, and perhaps be with others who also want the same thing.

The police are insisting that they are only enforcing ordinances long in place – drinking, smoking or gambling in public, shirtless, disturbing the peace. Doesn’t that statement show incompetence?

So all these were just being ignored by the PNP, until their prime benefactor has spoken. Thousands have been jailed for these minor offenses. Like the jails have the space.

Is it any wonder that some will suffer the fate of Argoncillo?