By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) assured the family of drug suspect Reijie Rose of an impartial investigation on the alleged brutality of some police officers.
Acting APPO Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion said the investigation of the Provincial Internal Affairs Service (PIAS) will be fair after the family and friends of Rose demanded for justice for the incident.
Nacion also dismissed a flurry of speculations insofar as the credibility of the ongoing PIAS investigations on the policemen involved in the alleged mauling of Rose.
“We trust the PIAS will conduct a full and impartial investigation on the incident. We will wait for the results and findings of their investigation,” he said.
He was arrested in a buy-bust operation led by Insp. Wilfredo Hofileña. Operatives found 12 sachets of suspected shabu in Rose’s possession.
Rose was allegedly beaten up after he resisted the Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) who arrested him early morning of July 13 in Kalibo, Aklan. He was taken to the Aklan Provincial Hospital hours after the buy-bust operation. He sustained injuries after he was alleged;y mauled by some guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
On Thursday, PAIDSTOG filed charges against the suspect for the violations illegal possession and selling of drugs before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. Rose, however, was placed under hospital arrest.
Police authorities also charged Rose with direct assault and resistance and disobedience against persons of authority before a local court.
Although the Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office and the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) are also conducting a parallel probe, Nacion said PIAS is in the thick of an in-depth and thorough investigation on the case.
“We hope the people do not lose their trust in the Philippine National Police. We don’t tolerate any kind of police brutality,” he said.
Earlier, Rose’s mother, Alicia, sought help from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headed by Police Superintendent Peter Naboye to look into the case of her son.
The medico-legal report stated that Reijie suffered multiple injuries secondary to mauling with abrasion hematoma on his left forearm, upper lip; multiple abrasions on his right elbow, right and left knee; superficial hematoma on the face; and facial bone fracture, among others.
Alicia said they will fully cooperate with the police’s investigation to ensure that her son achieves justice. She also appealed for financial support to cover the medical services of a neuro-surgeon in Iloilo City for the safe recovery of Reijie.
The suspect is presently confined at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. He is guarded 24/7 by the local police. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
