NBI to conduct autopsy on body of mauled man

To shake off any speculations of a whitewash investigation, the Philippine National Police gave way to the request of the family to have Donnie Noel’s body autopsied by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria yesterday announced that the family of Noel opted NBI-7 to conduct an autopsy on the body before he will be buried this Saturday.

Originally, Regional Crime Laboratory medico-legal officer, Supt. Nestor Satur scheduled the autopsy tomorrow.

Noel died four days after he was allegedly punched by PO1 Christian Peñafiel inside the Ronda Police Station last July 25.

He came into the scene upon seeing that his son, Russell, was allegedly beaten by Peñafiel who arrived in the middle of an interrogation by the Special Reaction Unit of the Ronda police.

The younger Noel was accused of having a drink too many and of brandishing a firearm earlier that day.

After he got hit by Peñafiel, Donnie, according to his family and friends, appeared to be disturbed and he was seeking advices on how to deal with the situation.

Ronda Municipal Health officer Nicolas Nicdao said that the victim could not believe that the policeman allegedly has no respect on him and that he was beaten up when he is already a senior citizen.

Nicdao, who examined Donnie, said that he found the right mandibular area swollen; a spot which darkened when Donnie died because blood had stopped circulating.

Nicdao said that the incident may not be the direct cause of Donnie’s death, but could have triggered it.

Peñafiel, on the other hand, was relieved from the Provincial Mobile Group, his mother unit, and is now at the Provincial Service and Security Group while facing an investigation. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV