Father of 'executed' inmate wants guv out of son's case
Cries for justice are heard anew from the father of 'executed' inmate Dante Joaquin Jr. even as results are expected this week on the independent investigation conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
And stay away from my son's case, Dante Sr.'s curt message went for Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. when reached by Bombo Radyo for update over the weekend.
"Sa kay Governor Tupas, indi na iya pag-entrahe ang kaso sang bata ko kay maguba ka gid sa bilog nga Pavia kag Leganes (To Governor Tupas, do not meddle in the case of my son because you will be 'destroyed' in the entire towns of Pavia and Leganes)," he said while adding , "puro binutig na ang iya nga report ni Warden (Juan) Mabugat (The report of Warden Mabugat is all lies)."
The victim's father was reacting to the warden's official incident report submitted to the Governor that justified the 'firing squad' response to Dante Jr's escape-try last Saturday.
The incident rocked again the Mabugat-run Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC), multi-million home to some 900 Ilonggo detainees.
Joaquin Jr's brutal death in the hands of six IRC guards caused an outcry from the family particularly since it was known to the management that the slain inmate was suffering from depression.
Dante Sr. disclosed of a letter sent that tragic day by one jail guard asking the family to visit and check on their mentally-disturbed son. The letter was received by the Joaquin family thirty minutes after Bombo Radyo got a call from a woman informant of sporadic shots fired inside the IRC. A speeding IRC van then left the premises that bolstered fears of the caller.
"Sige-sige linupok tapos may nag-gua nga salakyan nga ga-emergency (The shots were continuous then a vehicle came out in a rush like in an emergency)," the woman caller who requested not to be identified said.
The minute confirmation came on the victim's identity, a shocked Dante Sr. rushed to the IRC.
"Nabatian ko na nga ang bata ko ang napatay te nagdali-dali ko lakat. Nag-abot ang ila sulat sa balay mga alas dose na. Ulihi na. Ginpatay na nila bata ko (I heard that it was my son who was killed so I hurriedly left home. Their letter came about 12 noon. It was too late They already killed my son)," he continued while adding, "bal-an na gid nila nga may nerbyos gin-amo gid to nila (They were already aware that he was suffering from nervous disorder and yet they did that to him)".
The Joaquins vow to pursue the case against the guards and the IRC management.
Dante Jr. made a sudden dash for freedom as hundreds of fellow inmates were in the mess hall for lunch. A couple other inmates attempted to stop him yet failed to reach him on time.
A warning shot was made by the guard on duty on the ground however the second Dante Jr. stepped outside the main building, at least six jail guards, all heavily-armed, open fired at him.
In an autopsy made on his remains, Medico-Legal Officer Dr. Owen Lebaquin confirmed some 15 gunshot wounds, all fatal coming from automatic armalite service rifles of the guards.
Warden Mabugat came to the rescue of his men saying it was a 'judgment call' especially with reports of a mass jailbreak reportedly in the offing.
Board Member Angelo Briones, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety was first to react against the excessive use of force saying what happened was one clear case of 'overkill.'
As such, Briones condemned the killing and called for re-training of the guards on gun-safety and responsibility.