Capitol conducts own probe on inmate's brutal death
The Capitol has now officially dipped its hands on the brutal killing of an inmate at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC). With an Executive Order issued by Governor Niel Tupas, the two-week probe unfolds this week aimed at establishing the (mis) events surrounding the 'execution' of victim, Dante Joaquin Jr.
Respected Capitol-lawyer Salvador Cabaluna, Provincial Legal Office (PLO) chief heads the investigation expected to focus further on the extent of liability of at least six jail guards involved in the hapless killing.
Detained for Frustrated Homicide and Attempted Homicide cases, Joaquin Jr. prior to his death was known to IRC management to be suffering from a mental disorder. He made the fatal mistake of attempting to escape during the busy lunch hour. Seconds after exiting the main building, a warning shot alerted second-floor provincial jail guards who then trained their service armalite-rifles and shot him from their vantage point.
"An overkill," Board Member Angelo Briones then said while IRC warden, retired Police Senior Superintendent Juan Mabugat justified the use of force as his men's "judgment call."
The Capitol probe has some two weeks to work on its independent investigation as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) concludes its own anytime this week. Such as the Pototan Police moved to strengthen its pool of witnesses and gather some more accounts and evidences to back up either murder or homicide case set to be filed.
A multi-million jail facility located in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo, the IRC administration under Warden Mabugat has since been besieged by one controversy after the other.
Prior to the Joaquin episode, the IRC was subjected to intense media attention following the riot conducted by hundreds of inmates. Complaints of mismanagement, oppression and abuse were heard from the group as they called for a change in IRC management.
"That is supposed to be a rehabilitation center but with what happened, the jail guards themselves are the ones who are supposed to be rehabilitated," added sentiments of Board Member Briones.
Results of the Capitol investigation will be submitted to the Governor.