Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants a Senate probe into the hostage-taking of former Senator Leila de Lima within the custodial center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Oct. 9.
“While our police officers demonstrated swift and decisive action during a crisis situation, the incident nonetheless reflects poorly on our police organization’s capacity to perform their mandate of preventing crimes, enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety,” Estrada said on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Camp Crame, where the incident took place, is the national headquarters of the PNP. The three inmates took De Lima hostage during an escape attempt.
Estrada thus filed Senate Resolution (SR) 258, which urges the Senate to launch an inquiry in aid of legislation into the escape attempt.
In his statement, he cites De Lima’s affidavit in which she recalls a complaint made to her by Feliciano Sulayao Jr., her hostage-taker.
Sulayao alleged that he and his cohorts were treated “like animals” and that their food had pork in it, despite their religious affiliations.
“The police organization should inspire confidence through the institutionalization of strict security protocols in PNP detention facilities, adequate training and capacity-building of its officers and personnel, and humane treatment of persons under police custody, being respectful of their religious beliefs and cultural practices,” Estrada concluded.