A police captain (senior inspector) and at least 19 of his men were sacked from their posts after they were accused of torturing a suspected thief right inside a police community precinct in Tondo, Manila, a police official said on Wednesday.

And with the manner of the torture which Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), described as disgusting, Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug and his men will be made to undergo neuro-psychiatric evaluation.

Verzosa said Binayug, commander of the Asuncion Police Community Precinct in Tondo, Manila, will also be made to undergo the 30-day restraining program at the character and disciplinary school of the PNP at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Zambales.

“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,” he added.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) likewise condemned the torture.

The DoJ said members of the police precinct caught on video torturing the suspected thief inside a prison cell face the full force of the law.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said there is no place in Philippine society for the sickening practice of torture.

"There is no place within our law enforcement agencies for individuals capable of engaging in something so despicable,” said de Lima.

De Lima said individuals involved should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, especially the recently passed Anti-Torture Act.

“It is time to put this piece of legislation to the test and see if it can be an effective tool for greater accountability and diminished impunity,” De Lima added.

The alleged torture was documented through video footages wherein an alleged law offender was being physically hurt by policemen inside the police precinct while trying to extract information from him regarding his alleged criminal activity.

The victim was naked, bound with ropes and being tortured by a man while other persons, including one wearing a police uniform where looking on.