Probe up on violent killing of escapee
Saturday's killing of an escapee at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) has now generated widespread call for investigation even as key figures in the Iloilo Provincial Government issued opposing sentiments on the incident.
For Board Member Angelo Briones, gun enthusiast and chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP), the brutal death of inmate Dante Joaquin was one clear “overkill.”
And true to the center being a place for “rehabilitation,” Briones derided the IRC management and the Capitol saying the incident shows anew that it should be the provincial guards themselves who need to be rehabilitated and not the detainees.
Such as he added that it has since been his position and sentiment to have members of the custodial force of the IRC subjected to intense training on gun safety and responsibility. While at it, Briones continued, he felt it necessary to push for neuro-psychiatric evaluation of all 85 provincial guards.
“Nowhere during the incident that the guards' safety were compromised. And the victim was not also armed with anything. The sensible decision there was to maim the subject and not spray bullets on him like a firing squad. Makaluluoy ang naabtan ni Dante Joaquin,” Briones said in a The News Today (TNT) interview. “I am fully supporting any investigation on the incident and while I am not prejudging it, I maintain that it was one wrong call for the guards.”
Joaquin met his violent death in the hands of six provincial guards stationed at the second floor of the new IRC building in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo. Believed to be suffering from a mental disorder, the 33 year-old native of Pavia, Iloilo faced Homicide, attempted homicide and Frustrated Homicide charges. He was said to have demonstrated extreme paranoia some three days before the escape-try. (See related story).
Meantime, an impartial probe is underway with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) saying a team will be created to look into the Joaquin killing. One government action that retired Police Superintendent Juan Mabugat, IRC warden openly welcomed.
“Okey gid. Wala problema sa akon. They are welcome to investigate,” he began when reached by TNT for reaction. “But I stand by my guards and what they did was one judgment call. Kabalo ka kung shooter ka, indi man lang ina isa ka tiro, ginapasundan mo gid ina so amo to nga nagdamo ang igo ni Joaquin.”
To date, yet another probe was made by police of the Pototan Police Office with Mabugat confirming that the identities of the six jail security responsible for the shooting were already submitted.
Governor Niel Tupas for his part also told Capitol reporters that he will have the matter looked into by an impartial body.
A check made with Capitol lawyer Salvador Cabaluna disclosed of a verbal order from the Governor on the subject. What is being awaited, Cabaluna explained, was the official report of Mabugat to Tupas.