CEBU CITY – Two policemen in Toledo City, Cebu are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the death of a street dweller.

The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) on Feb. 5 filed criminal and administrative complaints against Police Patrolman Raymond Manipis and Police Master Sgt. Sepjanrey Roda for mauling Eliseo Rosento, a 59-year-old mendicant, to death.
Rosento died last August. His cause of death was initially reported as “fell on the pavement.”
The victim's sister, Cristita Mahinay, became suspicious when bruises and wounds on his brother's head were discovered, NBI-7 Regional Director Renan Oliva told reporters on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Mahinay filed a complaint before the NBI-7 which launched a thorough investigation on her brother’s death.
The NBI-7 exhumed Rosento’s body and autopsy showed that he died due to traumatic head injury.
Oliva added that on Aug. 26, 2024, several witnesses claimed that they saw Manipis and Roda assaulting Rosento multiple times at the Toledo City Catholic Cemetery.
Other witnesses told investigators that on the same day, they saw the suspects beating the victim in a separate incident near a gasoline station in Barangay Poblacion.
The NBI-7 continues to conduct an investigation to determine the motive of the attack.
The suspects denied the accusations against them. “We already coordinated with the (accused) policemen but they denied all the evidence presented against them,” said Oliva.
The NBI-7 has coordinated with the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas to ensure that the relationship between the two law enforcement agencies will not be affected by the case. “We believe this is just an isolated case, isolated acts,” said Oliva.