Family of 'Tisoy' believes cops are liable, Argoncillo jailed to fill up quota
Published Jun 22, 2018 06:19 pm
By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
Despite the presentation of suspects, family members of Genesis Argoncillo alias 'Tisoy' still believes that policemen are also liable for his death, claiming he was only jailed to fill up a "quota."
Clara Jalea (aunt) and Marilou Argoncillo (sister) of Genesis Argoncillo attend the press conference today, June 22, 2018 on the update regarding the Genesis 'Tisoy' Argoncillo' case in Camp Karingal, Quezon City. (Kevin Tristan Espiritu)
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) released Thursday the names of detainees tagged in the death of 25-year-old Argoncillo, their fellow inmate at the Novaliches Police Station (PS-4).
They were identified as Justine Mercado, 23, who was facing charges for concealing of deadly weapon, and Richard Bautista, 33, who was detained for illegal gambling. Police said both are members of Sputnik Gang.
Based on the progress report from QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, three witnesses gave a sworn statement that the two suspects conspired in mauling the victim.
However, family members of Argoncillo, who fondly called him Tisoy, strongly believes that policemen should also be blamed for what happened to Genesis.
Police said, based on the statements of the witnesses, Tisoy always ran around the overcrowded jail, accidentally stepping on his fellow inmates which irked the suspects.
The cops added that they tried transferring Tisoy to other police station but the victim allegedly resisted and went wild.
Marilou's theory
In a press briefing at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, Tisoy's sister, Marilou, said that she does not believe the statement of the police officers that fellow inmates were the ones who beat up his brother.
"Ang sabi ng mga pulis, ililipat daw nila ang kapatid ko sa Station 2. Ayaw daw magpalipat, nagwawala. Pero gustung-gusto ng kapatid ko magpalipat kasi hirap na sya doon. Wala siyang tulog. May kasalanan din ang mga pulis kasi nilabas nila ang kapatid ko para ilipat. Sa labas siya nabugbog (Police said they were about to transfer my brother to Station 2. But my brother didn't want to be transferred, he went wild. But my brother really wanted to be transferred because he was having a difficult time there. He couldn't sleep. Police are also liable because they took him out to transfer. It was when he was outside of the jail that he was mauled)," she said
Tisoy's aunt, Irma Aducul, who watched over his nephew's third day wake at a basketball court near them, said that on June 19, Marilou visited his brother to bring some food, but noticed that his brother was not inside the cell.
The police officer told them that Tisoy was sleeping.
Feeling uneasy, Marilou insisted to at least get a glance of his brother. That's when police told them that they rushed Tisoy to Novaliches District Hospital as he collapsed.
Upon arrivimg at the hospital, they were told that Tisoy was already dead.
Argoncillo's family, neighbors believe there are lapses in the case
Tisoy's family and neighbors who live at a narrow alley inside Area 5B, Sitio Cabuyao, in Barangay Sauyo also believe there are lapses in the case.
Aducul said that on the night of June 15, Tisoy was sitting in front of the store near their house to buy cellphone load to watch some videos on his mobile phone. He was shirtless.
He was busy using his mobile phone when at least three policemen, two of whom were wearing uniforms, spotted Tisoy and his neighbor Roche Bayog, both half-naked, Aducul said.
She added that the policemen noticed an empty bottle of beer behind Tisoy and handed it to him while taking pictures "for evidence."
Aducul said that the beer was not Tisoy's as he had just arrived from his work from his uncle's repair shop.
Initially, police said that Tisoy was arrested for being half-naked -- a violation of a City Ordinance.
This was also what was written at the barangay blotter where Tisoy, along with sixteen other violators, first brought for record before they were turned over to Novaliches Police Station.
Apprehended persons violated different city ordinances including loitering, nuisance, urinating in public place, and half-naked.
However, relieved PS-4 commander, Supt. Carlito Grijaldo earlier said that his men were conducting 'Oplan Galugad' and not the 'Anti-Tambay' Drive where loiterers and other city ordinance violators were nabbed.
Grijaldo also said that Tisoy was arrested for alarm and scandal along with his four other companions.
Blotter entry on Tisoy's 'arrest'
Based on the blotter report entered on 3:30 a.m., June 16, Tisoy was arrested with Emerson Tano, Japhet Igloria, Jayson Manuel, and Rodolfo Longalong "while under influence of drugs and creating trouble by shouting at the top of their voice and challenging anyone to a fistfight."
These men, whom police said was with Tisoy during his arrest, were living in a different compound.
The victim's family also found out that Tisoy's name was erased from the barangay blotter which means that he can go home as he was only a first offender.
However, when cops noticed that they will only be bringing nine people to the police station, Aducul said that they still brought Tisoy with them, allegedly to fill up a "quota."
Alleged mauling
While detained Marilou said that Tisoy told her he was being mauled inside the congested jail.
Marilou said she did not tell the police about what's happening to his brother inside the cell for fear that they might beat him again.
"Hindi kasi natakot ako na yung mga sabi-sabi, na baka pag-initan sa loob yung kapatid ko. Minsan yung mismong pulis pa daw ang mag-uutos sa kanila na bugbugin sa loob. Ayoko rin po kasi danasin yun ng kapatid ko (I didn't tell anyone out of fear from what I heard, that my brother might earn their ire. I heard that sometimes it is the police themselves that order the mauling. I didn't want my brother to suffer the same fate)," she said.
Marilou also lamented how police officers neglected their duty on protecting their detainees at all cost.
She said they will be filing a case to seek justice on what happened to his brother.
"Magfa-file kami ng kaso para makamit naming pamilya yung hustisya sa nangyari sa kapatid namin, na hindi naman namin inaasahan. Akala ko talaga nung araw na yon malakalabas na yung kapatid ko (We will file a case to seek justice for what happened to my brother, which we did not expect)," Marilou cried.
"Napakasakit na nabalewala ang buhay ng kapatid ko. Nawalan ng saysay ang buhay ng kapatid ko. Hindi naman ganoon kalaki yung kaso ng kapatid ko. Nagmakaawa ako sa barangay pa lang. Nagmamakaawa ako sa kanila pero hindi nila ako pinakinggan. Hindi naman malaki ang kaso ng kapatid ko, wala lang damit pang-itaas. Nawalan ng saysay ang kapatid ko dahil sa kapabayaan ninyo (It's very painful that my brother lost his life needlessly. My brother's life was wasted. His case wasn't that big a deal. I pleaded for mercy even at the onset. I pleaded but they didn't pay any heed. My brother's offense wasn't that serious, he was merely shirtless. My brother's life was wasted because of your neglect)," she continued.
QCPD chief's denial
QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. on Thursday morning denied allegations of brutality in Tisoy's death.
Esquivel added that based on the cursory examination given to him, there are no external injured found in Tisoy's body.
This was contrary to Tisoy's death certificate released Thursday afternoon, which stated that he died because of "multiple blunt force trauma in his neck, head, chest, and upper extremities."
The QCPD chief admitted they do not know that Tisoy was beaten as the reports he received stated only that the victim succumbed to natural causes due to jail congestion.
All accounts being complained by Tisoy's family is now subject of further investigation on the case for both administrative and criminal side, Esquivel said.
He added that five officers of Novaliches Police Station were immediately relieved from their posts including Grijaldo, duty Jailer PO3 Dennis Saño, Desk Officer SPO3 Ronald Nañola, Staff Duty Officer (SDO) PINSP Oliver Dela Cruz, and Shift Patrol Supervisor (SPS) SPO4 Valerio Perez, pending results of the investigation.
Esquivel reiterated that the QCPD is conducting a thorough investigation on the death of Tisoy.
"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. We assure the public and the family of the deceased of full transparency and no cover up of the case," he concluded.
Clara Jalea (aunt) and Marilou Argoncillo (sister) of Genesis Argoncillo attend the press conference today, June 22, 2018 on the update regarding the Genesis 'Tisoy' Argoncillo' case in Camp Karingal, Quezon City. (Kevin Tristan Espiritu)
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) released Thursday the names of detainees tagged in the death of 25-year-old Argoncillo, their fellow inmate at the Novaliches Police Station (PS-4).
They were identified as Justine Mercado, 23, who was facing charges for concealing of deadly weapon, and Richard Bautista, 33, who was detained for illegal gambling. Police said both are members of Sputnik Gang.
Based on the progress report from QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, three witnesses gave a sworn statement that the two suspects conspired in mauling the victim.
However, family members of Argoncillo, who fondly called him Tisoy, strongly believes that policemen should also be blamed for what happened to Genesis.
Police said, based on the statements of the witnesses, Tisoy always ran around the overcrowded jail, accidentally stepping on his fellow inmates which irked the suspects.
The cops added that they tried transferring Tisoy to other police station but the victim allegedly resisted and went wild.
Marilou's theory
In a press briefing at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, Tisoy's sister, Marilou, said that she does not believe the statement of the police officers that fellow inmates were the ones who beat up his brother.
"Ang sabi ng mga pulis, ililipat daw nila ang kapatid ko sa Station 2. Ayaw daw magpalipat, nagwawala. Pero gustung-gusto ng kapatid ko magpalipat kasi hirap na sya doon. Wala siyang tulog. May kasalanan din ang mga pulis kasi nilabas nila ang kapatid ko para ilipat. Sa labas siya nabugbog (Police said they were about to transfer my brother to Station 2. But my brother didn't want to be transferred, he went wild. But my brother really wanted to be transferred because he was having a difficult time there. He couldn't sleep. Police are also liable because they took him out to transfer. It was when he was outside of the jail that he was mauled)," she said
Tisoy's aunt, Irma Aducul, who watched over his nephew's third day wake at a basketball court near them, said that on June 19, Marilou visited his brother to bring some food, but noticed that his brother was not inside the cell.
The police officer told them that Tisoy was sleeping.
Feeling uneasy, Marilou insisted to at least get a glance of his brother. That's when police told them that they rushed Tisoy to Novaliches District Hospital as he collapsed.
Upon arrivimg at the hospital, they were told that Tisoy was already dead.
Argoncillo's family, neighbors believe there are lapses in the case
Tisoy's family and neighbors who live at a narrow alley inside Area 5B, Sitio Cabuyao, in Barangay Sauyo also believe there are lapses in the case.
Aducul said that on the night of June 15, Tisoy was sitting in front of the store near their house to buy cellphone load to watch some videos on his mobile phone. He was shirtless.
He was busy using his mobile phone when at least three policemen, two of whom were wearing uniforms, spotted Tisoy and his neighbor Roche Bayog, both half-naked, Aducul said.
She added that the policemen noticed an empty bottle of beer behind Tisoy and handed it to him while taking pictures "for evidence."
Aducul said that the beer was not Tisoy's as he had just arrived from his work from his uncle's repair shop.
Initially, police said that Tisoy was arrested for being half-naked -- a violation of a City Ordinance.
This was also what was written at the barangay blotter where Tisoy, along with sixteen other violators, first brought for record before they were turned over to Novaliches Police Station.
Apprehended persons violated different city ordinances including loitering, nuisance, urinating in public place, and half-naked.
However, relieved PS-4 commander, Supt. Carlito Grijaldo earlier said that his men were conducting 'Oplan Galugad' and not the 'Anti-Tambay' Drive where loiterers and other city ordinance violators were nabbed.
Grijaldo also said that Tisoy was arrested for alarm and scandal along with his four other companions.
Blotter entry on Tisoy's 'arrest'
Based on the blotter report entered on 3:30 a.m., June 16, Tisoy was arrested with Emerson Tano, Japhet Igloria, Jayson Manuel, and Rodolfo Longalong "while under influence of drugs and creating trouble by shouting at the top of their voice and challenging anyone to a fistfight."
These men, whom police said was with Tisoy during his arrest, were living in a different compound.
The victim's family also found out that Tisoy's name was erased from the barangay blotter which means that he can go home as he was only a first offender.
However, when cops noticed that they will only be bringing nine people to the police station, Aducul said that they still brought Tisoy with them, allegedly to fill up a "quota."
Alleged mauling
While detained Marilou said that Tisoy told her he was being mauled inside the congested jail.
Marilou said she did not tell the police about what's happening to his brother inside the cell for fear that they might beat him again.
"Hindi kasi natakot ako na yung mga sabi-sabi, na baka pag-initan sa loob yung kapatid ko. Minsan yung mismong pulis pa daw ang mag-uutos sa kanila na bugbugin sa loob. Ayoko rin po kasi danasin yun ng kapatid ko (I didn't tell anyone out of fear from what I heard, that my brother might earn their ire. I heard that sometimes it is the police themselves that order the mauling. I didn't want my brother to suffer the same fate)," she said.
Marilou also lamented how police officers neglected their duty on protecting their detainees at all cost.
She said they will be filing a case to seek justice on what happened to his brother.
"Magfa-file kami ng kaso para makamit naming pamilya yung hustisya sa nangyari sa kapatid namin, na hindi naman namin inaasahan. Akala ko talaga nung araw na yon malakalabas na yung kapatid ko (We will file a case to seek justice for what happened to my brother, which we did not expect)," Marilou cried.
"Napakasakit na nabalewala ang buhay ng kapatid ko. Nawalan ng saysay ang buhay ng kapatid ko. Hindi naman ganoon kalaki yung kaso ng kapatid ko. Nagmakaawa ako sa barangay pa lang. Nagmamakaawa ako sa kanila pero hindi nila ako pinakinggan. Hindi naman malaki ang kaso ng kapatid ko, wala lang damit pang-itaas. Nawalan ng saysay ang kapatid ko dahil sa kapabayaan ninyo (It's very painful that my brother lost his life needlessly. My brother's life was wasted. His case wasn't that big a deal. I pleaded for mercy even at the onset. I pleaded but they didn't pay any heed. My brother's offense wasn't that serious, he was merely shirtless. My brother's life was wasted because of your neglect)," she continued.
QCPD chief's denial
QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. on Thursday morning denied allegations of brutality in Tisoy's death.
Esquivel added that based on the cursory examination given to him, there are no external injured found in Tisoy's body.
This was contrary to Tisoy's death certificate released Thursday afternoon, which stated that he died because of "multiple blunt force trauma in his neck, head, chest, and upper extremities."
The QCPD chief admitted they do not know that Tisoy was beaten as the reports he received stated only that the victim succumbed to natural causes due to jail congestion.
All accounts being complained by Tisoy's family is now subject of further investigation on the case for both administrative and criminal side, Esquivel said.
He added that five officers of Novaliches Police Station were immediately relieved from their posts including Grijaldo, duty Jailer PO3 Dennis Saño, Desk Officer SPO3 Ronald Nañola, Staff Duty Officer (SDO) PINSP Oliver Dela Cruz, and Shift Patrol Supervisor (SPS) SPO4 Valerio Perez, pending results of the investigation.
Esquivel reiterated that the QCPD is conducting a thorough investigation on the death of Tisoy.
"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. We assure the public and the family of the deceased of full transparency and no cover up of the case," he concluded.