Ejercito wants guidelines for police operations vs loiterers
By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Senator Bam Aquino questioned what he said was the police’s flip-flopping statements about the cause of death of detainee Genesis Argoncillo.
Aquino made the statement on Friday, June 22, the day Quezon City Police District director Joselito Esquivel said in a press conference that murder charges were slated to be filed against the two detainees who allegedly beat Argoncillo up while he was locked up in the Quezon City Police District Station 4.
Esquivel made the pronouncement after the QCPD denied the allegations Argoncillo, who had been allegedly arrested for “alarm and scandal,” had been beaten up, noting that he had complained of shortness of breath and was rushed to the hospital where he died.
But Esquivel, in his press conference, noted that the QCPD’s early pronouncement was based on initial reports, including a medical report prepared by Dr. Jethiel Fabon that said there were no observed external injuries on Argoncillo.
In his statement, Aquino also questioned what he said were the police operations against loiterers that were being done in only poor communities.
“Mahirap na naman ang biktima. Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad,” he said.
Senator JV Ejercito, for his part, said that the Philippine National Police should have “guidelines” they would follow when conducting operations against loiterers.
“Kasi parang noong nagbigay ng order ang Pangulo, agad-agad nilang im;lement without informing the public about the guidelines. So ano ba ang bawal, ano ba ang hindi? King ikaw man ay isang ordinaryong mamamayan o ordinaryong Juan dela Cruz hindi mo rin alam kung what is accepted or not,” Ejercito said.
