By Nel B. Andrade
Antipolo City, Rizal — Congestion in the detention facility of the police station in this city, coupled with the summer heat, could have contributed to the unruly behavior of a male detainee who was later mauled to death by three of his fellow detainees earlier this week.
Senior Police Office 3 Carlo Tamondong of the Investigation Section of the Antipolo City Police Station said the disorderly conduct of Margine Sanchez inside the detention cell might be the result of the overcrowding in the detention facility.
The detention facility, which is divided into three cells, has more than 200 male and female detainees. The facility was designed only for less than 100 inmates.
Sanchez, who was detained for theft, was rushed to the hospital Monday night right after he was observed to be trying to catch his breath. He was later declared dead.
Police later learned from witnesses that the detainee was mauled by his fellow inmates, Jimmy Apable, Rodelio Alcuriza, and Daniel Sallan prior to the time that he was seen already pale.
Sanchez, a tricycle driver, had been detained since last week and was awaiting the resolution for his bail when the mauling happened Monday night.
Investigation showed that prior to the mauling, Sanchez had bitten one of the inmates as if he was suffering from a mental illness.
“The condition in the lock-up jail could have added up to his frustration,” said SPO3 Tamondong who gathered that Sanchez was a quiet type of person and that his becoming unruly was unexpected.
The three inmates, who are detained for various offenses, are now isolated in the detention cell following the deadly mauling. They are now facing homicide charge as a result of the death of Sanchez.