(Eagle News Service) — The commander of the station where an alleged “secret jail” was found has been sacked, even as the Manila Police District said that the detention cell was not a secret one in the first place.
In an interview over GMA News TV, Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said based on the report of Supt. Roberto Domingo, Station 1 commander, who has been relieved from this post, the individuals detained in the “improvised” and “interim holding area,” which the Commission on Human Rights had dubbed a “secret jail,” were actually allowed to have visitors.
“Hindi tinatago ang kanilang pagkahuli,” Coronel said.
He said the “improvised” jail where 11 individuals were detained before it was found was so newly arrested individuals would be accommodated.
The station’s “regular jail,” after all, was “good only for 40 persons,” and was “overcrowded.”
“Sa Station 1, 89 ang nakakulong, 19 dito ang babae,” he said.
When told that the so-called improvised cell had no ventilation, Coronel said, “Nakakalungkot nga, sa kakulangan ng resources at pondo.”
He noted that the media have already reported about the state of jails in the country.
“Di namin kinakaila ito. Nakakaawa ang kanilang kalagayan,” he said.
Inquiries set
Coronel said nonetheless, the Philippine National Police would conduct an investigation to determine whether there were “lapses” under Domingo’s watch.
Coronel added that recommendations would also be made.
The CHR, which made public the supposed secret jail following an alleged tip from a “reliable source,” for its part, said charges may be filed against the policemen behind the facility.
Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said that secret detention facilities were prohibited under Republic Act 91745.
She noted that under the same law, the act of detaining someone in a secret facility was considered mental or psychological torture.
“Magpapatuloy ang aming imbestigasyon,” she said, noting that the CHR would also subject the 11 inmates under an exam that would determine whether there was truth to their allegations they had been tortured. (With a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)
