Senators fume over PNP inaction on inmate's death inside QC jail
By AJ Siytangco
Published Jun 22, 2018 12:19 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Senators urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership not to stand idly by and simply wait for the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to hand its findings on the death of a 22-year old young man who was arrested for loitering.
This as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started an investigation on the death of Genesis Argoncillo who was collared and put to jail in an anti-loitering operation by cops.
Senator Francis Escudero
(Francis (Chiz) Escudero Official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Argoncillo died on June 19 allegedly after being beaten to death while in detention. “I urge and call on the PNP leadership to reconsider its decision to simply ‘standby’ the findings of the QCPD on the death of Genesis Argoncillo, and to, instead, fully investigate this matter,” Sen. Francis (Chiz) Escudero said on his Twitter account. Escudero said he finds it “ironic, quite frankly” that the PNP higher-ups are now simply “standing by” on the issue. “Please do not wait for us to do your job for you,” the senator warned. Cops alleged that Argoncillo, also known as “Tisoy,” complained of shortness of breath when he was detained. But relatives of Argoncillo said their kin, who was only out to reload his prepaid mobile phone at a nearby store, was beaten up. Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV slammed the death of Argoncillo saying another poor person became a casualty of a PNP operation. “Tumambay lang sa tindahan, nanonood ng video sa cellphone, inaresto dahil hindi naka-shirt. Ngayon naka-burol na, (He was just standing at a store, watching videos on his cell phone, arrested because he wore no shirt. Now his remains lie in state),” Aquino said in a statement. “Napakasakit nito sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at napakasakit na nangyayari ito sa ating bayan. Nakakabahala pa na paiba-iba ang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng kaniyang pagkamatay, (This is so difficult for the family he left behind. And it is very difficult to accept for our nation. And its so difficult to accept that the cops themselves are offering different declarations on the reasons of his death),” he said. “Mahirap na naman ang biktima. Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad, (Another poor has become a casualty. Almost all that were arrested are poor and the police operations being conducted in poorer communities),” added the senator. Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also said he cannot accept the circumstances over Argoncillo’s senseless death. Ejercito said the police’s enforcement of the anti-‘tambay’ policy should be implemented on “a case-to-case basis.” “Though I understand the President why he thought of this policy, why he gave such order and that we have to make sure that the environment is not conducive to criminals and lawless elements,” Ejercito said in a recent press conference. “But I’m sure the barangay, the police, and other law enforcement authorities would know already when individuals are planning something bad or not,” he said.
Senator Francis Escudero(Francis (Chiz) Escudero Official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Argoncillo died on June 19 allegedly after being beaten to death while in detention. “I urge and call on the PNP leadership to reconsider its decision to simply ‘standby’ the findings of the QCPD on the death of Genesis Argoncillo, and to, instead, fully investigate this matter,” Sen. Francis (Chiz) Escudero said on his Twitter account. Escudero said he finds it “ironic, quite frankly” that the PNP higher-ups are now simply “standing by” on the issue. “Please do not wait for us to do your job for you,” the senator warned. Cops alleged that Argoncillo, also known as “Tisoy,” complained of shortness of breath when he was detained. But relatives of Argoncillo said their kin, who was only out to reload his prepaid mobile phone at a nearby store, was beaten up. Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV slammed the death of Argoncillo saying another poor person became a casualty of a PNP operation. “Tumambay lang sa tindahan, nanonood ng video sa cellphone, inaresto dahil hindi naka-shirt. Ngayon naka-burol na, (He was just standing at a store, watching videos on his cell phone, arrested because he wore no shirt. Now his remains lie in state),” Aquino said in a statement. “Napakasakit nito sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at napakasakit na nangyayari ito sa ating bayan. Nakakabahala pa na paiba-iba ang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng kaniyang pagkamatay, (This is so difficult for the family he left behind. And it is very difficult to accept for our nation. And its so difficult to accept that the cops themselves are offering different declarations on the reasons of his death),” he said. “Mahirap na naman ang biktima. Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad, (Another poor has become a casualty. Almost all that were arrested are poor and the police operations being conducted in poorer communities),” added the senator. Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also said he cannot accept the circumstances over Argoncillo’s senseless death. Ejercito said the police’s enforcement of the anti-‘tambay’ policy should be implemented on “a case-to-case basis.” “Though I understand the President why he thought of this policy, why he gave such order and that we have to make sure that the environment is not conducive to criminals and lawless elements,” Ejercito said in a recent press conference. “But I’m sure the barangay, the police, and other law enforcement authorities would know already when individuals are planning something bad or not,” he said.