Aklan PNP to probe alleged ‘police brutality’

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will start its full and impartial investigation over allegations of police brutality of a drug suspect arrested by operatives on Sunday morning in Kalibo, Aklan.

POLICE BRUTALITY. The suspect being treated at the Aklan provincial hospital following the buy-bust operation last Sunday morning in Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan. The arresting officers are facing complaints of police brutality before the Aklan Provincial Internal Affairs Office / PHOTOS BY REIJOY ROSE

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, acting Aklan provincial police director, said he will not tolerate any form of abusive acts against the civilians at the hands of the police. 

Last Sunday, an unarmed 27-year old Regie Rose of Barangay Cogon, Lezo, Aklan was apprehended by the Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) and the Kalibo police station at around 1 a.m. in a funeral wake in Barangay Tigayon here.

A poseur buyer bought from him a sachet of shabu for P1,000 during the buy-bust operation. Twelve sachets of suspected shabu were also recovered from Rose, the report said. 

Disturbingly, Rose claimed he was repeatedly punched by four arresting officers while he was already restrained. It was not immediately clear who allegedly beat up the suspect or had direct participation in the ill-treatment of Rose.

But Nacion said his office will coordinate with the PNP’s Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch with the Provincial Internal Affairs Office to conduct immediate investigation of the alleged police brutality of arresting officers.

Rose is presently confined at the Aklan provincial hospital.  

“Ang nakalab-ot na report sa akun na ang suspect may resistance kag nagdulumugan sila sa semento sang mga pulis kag nag attempt pa siya na malagyo (According to reports, the suspect resisted arrest while he was apprehended by the police, resulting to pin him to the ground. He also tried to flee),” Nacion said. 

He assured Regie’s family that the police officers involved in the buy-bust operation last Sunday will be investigated. 

Even in social networking site Facebook, the alleged police brutality and the photos of Rose with swollen face and with blood stains on his clothing have been shared. Many others also cursed, outraged and called for justice for the brunt of alleged police brutality.  

Nacion said, “of the 53 anti-drug operations in the province conducted by the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) this year, this was the first time that there was an allegation of police brutality.” 

“Di pa gid naton mahambal kun ano ang natabu sa pag kaaresto sa suspect,” the police official stressed.