Manila Police face charges for secret cell

Inside the secret cell in Tondo. (Photo: Alex Baluyut/Facebook.com)

Police officers stationed at the Manila Police District (MPD) in Tondo are currently facing various charges after a secret detention cell was discovered in Station 1 two weeks ago by a special team from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

The Commission on Human Rights led by Officer-in-charge Karen Gomez-Dumpit filed a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the police officers of grave threats, arbitrary detention, grave coercion, robbery extortion, and violations under the Anti-Torture Law which strictly prohibits the existence of secret detention cells.

Dumpit’s letter to Ombudsman Conchita Morales-Carpio stated that the CHR had found sufficient cause for the Ombudsman to investigate MPD Station 1 Commander Superintendent Robert Domingo and other personnel.

Dumpit also said that they are still studying the possibility of filing a supplemental complaint against MPD Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel.

During the raid, it has been found out that the names of the 12 detainees were not in the station logbook and that the police were alleged to have been trying to extort money from them in exchange for their release.

“The CHR special team discovered the presence of 12 detainees, three of whom were women. The closet-sized cell, which is approximately one by five meters, is dark with no light and windows, and has one ceiling fan and only one male urinal, which forced detainees to defecate in plastic bags.” Read the letter.

“The detainees were discovered to have slept in sitting position for lack of space and with no provision of beds, and that some had not even eaten for days. Some detainees have also alleged that they were beaten and electrocuted.”

Speaking with reporters after filing the case, Dumpit said that this is the most shocking and dehumanizing violations of a detained person in the Philippines to date. She called on the Philippine National Police to take the matter and the incident seriously.

“We hope that the PNP will fully cooperate with the CHR and the Office of the Ombudsman in holding the erring police officers accountable for their actions and lapses that have violated their mandate and motto to serve and protect.” She said.

She also stated that the CHR will leave it up to the Office of the Ombudsman to act and investigate on the matter. The CHR will also continue its own independent investigation on the matter.