ILOILO City – Two police officers in Pototan, Iloilo are now under investigation for allegedly manhandling an attempted murder suspect.
Subject for complaint are Staff Sergeant Erwin Acosta and his brother Staff Sergeant Ravelo Acosta.
The 26-year-old Emmanuel Adoracion of Barangay Primitivo Ledesma Ward, Pototan reported the Acosta brothers for mauling him around 10 p.m. on May 27.
According to Adoracion, Erwin – who at that time was manning a police patrol car – hit him twice on the stomach after he got arrested for trying to stab the 25-year-old Donnil John Peñaflorida.
Erwin then brought Adoracion inside the police vehicle and continued punching him. Ravelo – assigned in the Community Police Assistance Center – also punched him on the stomach, said Adoracion.
Adoracion added that he requested for a medical checkup before detention but the police denied this.
He was brought to the hospital for the checkup on May 31 upon the order of Pototan police chief Ronnie Brillo.
Peñaflorida has filed an attempted murder charge against Adoracion.
Meanwhile, the Acosta brothers denied beating Adoracion. The commotion between the Adoracion and Peñaflorida happened near their house that was why they responded not because of personal issues, they said.
The brothers stressed that they had to take Adoracion to the police station by force because the latter tried to evade arrest.
Provincial police director Colonel Marlon Tayaba said he will conduct an investigation into the Acostas.
He added that it is part of the standard operating procedures (SOP) that before an arrested person is detained, he or she must undergo physical checkup.
“All police officers know the SOP. They have to face the charges if proven that they refused to bring the arrested person to the hospital before they detained him. Huwag na sila maghintay sa kanilang police chief,” said Tayaba.
Adoracion’s family already coordinated with the National Police Commission for the filing of an administrative case against the Acosta brothers./PN
