2 inmates face murder raps, 5 policemen relieved over death of ‘tambay’
TWO suspects behind the death of a man who was arrested for being a “tambay” (loiterer) will face murder charges as five policemen from the precinct that placed him under its custody were relieved from their posts, Quezon City Police District Chief Joselito Esquivel said on Friday.
In a press briefing at Camp Karingal, Esquivel identified the suspects as Justin Mercado and Richard Bautista, fellow detainees of Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo whom members of Novaliches Police Station 4 held for being shirtless and for allegedly loitering on the street.
Esquivel said the witnesses, fellow inmates Nestor Millete, Sterence Lamac and Rolly San Jose, claimed they saw Mercado and Bautista beating up Argoncillo inside his cell at 10 p.m. on Monday.
Mercado and Bautista were alleged members of the Sputnik Gang, the witnesses said.
“The QCPD reiterates that it is conducting a thorough investigation on the death of Argoncillo. We will investigate everyone involved, including the police officers on duty, until the truth comes out; and then prosecute the guilty to the full extent of the law,” Esquivel told reporters.
With the investigation, five Station 4 policemen on Thursday had to be relieved from their posts – Supt. Carlito Grijaldo, commander; jail guard officer Dennis Saño; a shift patrol supervisor, a staff duty officer and a desk officer, Esquivel said.
A death certificate obtained by The Manila Times showed that based on an autopsy on the victim, the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma to the neck, head, chest and upper extremities.
This contradicted initial findings by Quezon City police who said that Argoncillo died because of “shortness of breath” and that there were “no external injuries” found.
Argoncillo was arrested on the night of June 15 at Barangay Sauyo for “alarm and scandal”. He died on June 19 shortly after he was brought to the Novaliches District Hospital.
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