No foul play in inmate’s death: Manila police

FILE: Headquarters of the Philippine National Police – Manila Police District (PNP-MPD) along UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila. The building was opened in 1949. (Photo By Patrick Roque, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Manila Police District (MPD) on Friday belied allegation that a detainee at the Barbosa Community Precinct of MPD Police Station 3 was killed last August 6.

In a statement, the MPD, under Police Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, said it “is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Allan Rafael”, noting that a full investigation will be undertaken in connection with the detainee’s death three days after he was arrested along C.M. Recto cor. Loyola St. in Quiapo, Manila.

“Rafael’s death is understandably devastating to his family and our community. No one wanted this outcome,” the MPD said.

“We would like to clarify that the detainee was not subjected to torture or inhumane treatment; he was not slain, contrary to allegation of some,” it added.

The MPD added that “based on information at this time, he had a ‘medical condition’,” noting that “as soon as our police personnel became aware of his medical condition, he was transferred and the family was informed of this matter.”

The MPD said it did not interfere when Rafael’s common-law-wife brought his remains to a funeral parlor.

Police authorities said the results of the autopsy, signed by Dr. Melissa Gatchalian, National Bureau of Investigation medical legal officer, showed that the cause of death was cardio respiratory arrest.

Rafael and his boardmate Sherwin Angeles yielded two transparent plastic sachets containing methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu when arrested by police personnel of Barbosa station on Aug. 3, 2018.

The two men were put under inquest on Aug. 4, 2018 before Assistant City Prosecutor Manolo Vergara.

On Aug. 6, 2018, Rafael, while inside Barbosa PCP, experienced difficulty in breathing. He was brought to Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:15 a.m. of same date by Dr. Cynthia Charmino.