MANILA (PNA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed an investigating body that will look into the circumstances surrounding the reported torture of an arrested suspect by alleged police personnel inside a police precinct in Manila.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa instructed the Directorial Staff to organize Investigation Task Group “Asuncion” that will conduct a thorough probe into the incident which he described as “disgusting” and “totally unwarranted” actions by persons involved.

“Such actions do not have any place in an organization that espouses respect for human rights,” Verzosa said as he expressed the PNP high command’s condemnation of the incident.

“Any form of brutality and abuse of authority by PNP personnel will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and decisively according to our own disciplinary rules and internal policy.

ITG-Asuncion, headed by Chief Supt Roberto Rongavilla, Deputy Regional Director for Administration (DRDA) of the National Capital Region Police Office, is composed of investigators from the NCRPO, Internal Affairs Service (IAS), and the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO).

Initially, investigators are looking at apparent violation of RA 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and other specific violations of existing rules and procedures on the disposition of arrested criminal offenders.

In a report to Verzosa, NCRPO Regional Director, Police Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. said Police Sr. Inspector Joselito Binayug, commander of the Police Community Precinct in Asuncion, Tondo, Manila, and all personnel of the Asuncion PCP have been relieved from post.

On orders of Verzosa, all relieved personnel will be subjected to Neuro-Psychiatric (NP) evaluation, and will be made to undergo the 30-day Character and Aptitude Development Training (CADET) program at the PNP Values and Leadership School in SBMA.

For his part, PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the PNP leadership assures the full cooperation and support of all concerned PNP units and offices in separate investigations being conducted by other government agencies and disciplinary bodies.

Video footages aired in Tuesday’s late evening news showed a naked person, bound with ropes, being tortured by a man while other persons, including one wearing a police uniform where looking on.