TACLOBAN CITY -- A police officer was charged for the death of a theft suspect under the custody of the Maasin City police on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Staff Sgt. Ronald Gamayon, assigned to the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) in Southern Leyte, was charged with homicide following the death of Gilbert Ranes.
He was the first responder who arrested Ranes for a theft incident on Dec. 9 in Barangay Mantahan, Maasin City.
The victim was allegedly mauled and experienced difficulty in breathing before he was pronounced dead while under custody.
Gamayon has been placed under restrictive custody and disarmed.
The four other responding officers of the Maasin City Police Station were reassigned to the provincial police headquarters effective Dec. 12.
The Southern Leyte Provincial Internal Affairs Service (SL PIAS) has initiated a motu proprio investigation on the administrative aspect of the case.
A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Ranes was created by the Police Regional Office 8 for a thorough investigation of the incident.
Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured the public that PRO 8 will closely monitor the case and other similar incidents involving police officers.
"Here in Eastern Visayas, we do not tolerate misfits among our rank and file. We always see to it that truth prevails," he said.