The mother of a 19-year-old arrested for robbery has claimed that her son was being tortured by some members of the Pasig City police to own up to unsolved cases in the city.
"Jeron" (not his real name) has written a letter to his mother to seek help over the alleged nightly torture inside his cell. The letter was handed the mother by an inmate who had been released from jail.
"Ma, natrau-trauma na ako dito. Pakiusap, ma, ilabas n'yo na ako dito, inilalabas nila ako lagi para bugbugin at pinapalo nila ako ng kahoy sa paa. Natatakot ako magsumbong kasi binabalik-balikan nila ako dito," an excerpt of the letter read.
His words translated to English, the inmate claimed that he was being beaten up and his feet hit with a piece of wood. He said he was afraid to complain because his tormentors were always coming back to him.
Jeron surrendered to the police on Monday, 5 September.
Eastern Police District Director Col. Wilson Asueta has ordered an immediate investigation of the alleged torture being committed by the Pasig police.
"I told the chief of police to still investigate the allegation. But the suspect is fine inside the jail," Asueta said. "As per the report to me, there was no sign of torture."
The suspect was claimed to be a member of the Jonard Bernardo Criminal Group.
He was arrested by the police in his house in Barangay Malinao, Pasig City, by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Encarnacion Jaja Gomez Moya of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 146.
The arrested suspect was charged with robbery and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
