Suspect seeks Iloilo medical treatment, Aklan SP to investigate police brutality

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

 

The regional trial court in Kalibo, Aklan granted on Friday the request of drug suspect Reijie Rose to allow him to seek medical treatment in a hospital in Iloilo City.

Rose will be brought to Western Visayas State University Medical Center for further treatment on Saturday afternoon.  His doctor recommended that he be transferred to Iloilo City for a comprehensive medical examination.

The suspect is complaining of severe head and body injuries due to alleged police brutality.

The motion of Rose through his counsel was granted by Executive Judge Marietta Homena-Valencia. Two jail guards will be available to accompany the suspect, the court said. 

Rose is under arrest for illegal possession and selling of drugs. He is currently confined at Aklan provincial hospital after the buy-bust operation. 

The Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) is dealing with the alleged brutality of its operatives when they arrested Rose in Barangay Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan on July 13. 

Rose recounted his ordeal that he was texting and sitting alone in a motorcycle in front of a wake when the operatives approached and began to choke him. 

Rose said the operatives also hit his genitals, after which, he shouted for help from bystanders in the wake, but the operatives allegedly continued to hit him a number of times in the face.

“Gindasok dayun nanda aku sa likod it saeakyan ag gin-ubahan pa it long pants. Nabilin pa ang tsinelas sa saeakyan ag eaban sa ueo ro igo nakon. Ginkarga ako ag kin patung-an it daywa nga eaeaki. Kung indi ako mag-amin sa mga kaibahan hay i-salvage ako nanda. Owa ako it mahimo, nakaposas ako,” Rose said in a Todo Radyo interview.

 

After his arrest, the 27-year old Rose was brought by the policemen to Villa Salvacion in Barangay Andagao, about 4 kms from Barangay Tigayon, for a follow up police operation.

Rose said he fled on foot when the operatives left him sitting inside a vehicle. 

Just a few meters away, Rose was chased by two operatives, who allegedly pointed their guns to him and kicked his chest, when he was entirely subdued.

At the hospital recuperating from injuries, Rose denied selling or possessing illegal drugs after he was apprehended by the anti-narcotics unit of Aklan Police Provincial Office.  

On the other hand, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will be investigating amid the outcry and growing criticism on the alleged police brutality. 

Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Harry Sucgang, committee chairman on Human Rights, said those involved on police brutality committed on Rose will be invited for an investigation, in aid of legislation.

Sucgang noted that “the arresting officers shouldn’t be hitting the suspect who was already handcuffed and restrained.”

An internal investigation has been launched also by the Philippine National Police (PNP) over police brutality allegations.