Several Navotas cops accused of torturing murder suspects
By Hannah Nicol
Navotas City Police Station seal
Several officers of Navotas City Police Station (NCPS) are facing serious allegations of torture and coercion after two murder suspects claimed that they were beaten while under police custody.
The complaint was filed by the lawyer of suspects identified as “Michael” and “James,” who were arrested on Nov. 8 in Barangay Longos, Malabon, in connection with a fatal shooting in Navotas.
The two claimed they were beaten inside the police station, leaving them with bruises, contusions, and, in one case, a head injury.
According to the complaint, the officers involved include four staff sergeants, a master sergeant, a corporal, and two patrolmen from the station’s intelligence and investigation units.
Despite the visible injuries of the detainees, the suspects alleged that the duty jailer and head of the detention facility failed to stop the alleged abuse.
The two claimed they were threatened and physically forced to sign an extrajudicial confession, which was later submitted to the Navotas City Prosecutor’s Office as if it were voluntary.
They added that they were not informed of their rights, denied access to legal counsel, and interrogated while being allowed to contact their families or counsel.
The complaint stated that the acts described fall under torture as defined in the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (RA 9745) and violate the provisions of RA 7438, which protects persons under custodial investigation.
The complainants asked the Philippine National Police–Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) to identify all officers involved, place them under preventive suspension, and recommend appropriate administrative and criminal charges.
The complaint has been forwarded to the IAS for evaluation.