6 cops face raps over kidnap, torture of Cebu drug suspects
CEBU CITY—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal and administrative complaints against six antinarcotics policemen for allegedly beating up and taking custody of two drug suspects.
The NBI regional office in Central Visayas asked the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas to hold the six respondents liable for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with torture. They were also accused of violating Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The complaint was filed at the antigraft office based in Cebu City on May 5, but its copy was released by the NBI to reporters only on Tuesday.
Named respondents were Police Staff Sergeants Rey David Aumentado, Rex Forrosuelo, Marjun Milar and Jemechiel Gemang and two other unidentified policemen—all members of the police’s Drug Enforcement Group (DEG).
Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson for the Central Visayas police, said he was informed by DEG officers that the six policemen had been relieved from their post pending investigation.
Investigation showed that the victims—Randolph Restauro and his live-in partner Gemalen Elorde—were on board a motorcycle when the policemen on board another motorcycle blocked their path near Tungkop National High School in Minglanilla, Cebu, at 1 a.m. on March 26.
Article continues after this advertisementNBI Senior Agent Gregorio Algoso Jr. said Restauro, 30, a chef from Talisay City; and Elorde, 26, were forced inside a Toyota Innova which was tailing them.
Article continues after this advertisementAlgoso said the victims were blindfolded with masking tape but Elorde managed to peek, allowing her to see the faces of their abductors.
He said the couple were forced to admit and produce illegal drugs, which the police believed to be in Restauro’s possession.
Restauro told the NBI that he was repeatedly hit with a hard object, beaten up and tied on his feet upside down while inside the DEG Special Operations Unit office at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. here.
When policemen failed to find illegal drugs from the victims, they were taken back to Minglanilla around 4:30 a.m. the same day.
The victims reported the incident to the NBI which immediately conducted an investigation. Algoso said the NBI secured footage from security cameras that corroborated the victims’ account.
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