2 Laguna top cops sacked over ‘wheel of torture’

MANILA, Philippines - Two high-ranking officials of the Laguna police were relieved of their posts yesterday over the “wheel of torture” scandal.

Sacked were Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz and his intelligence chief Superintendent Kirby John Kraft.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian relieved the two for command responsibility in connection with the torture of 15 crime suspects in a holding facility in Biñan.

Gatchalian said he relieved the police officials upon the orders of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima.

He added that the provincial intelligence satellite office in Biñan where the detainees were tortured will be dismantled.

Senior Superintendent Faustino Manzanilla was designated to replace Muñoz. Kraft, on the other hand, was replaced by his deputy.

CHR probe

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will investigate the wheel of torture game allegedly perpetrated by 10 policemen in a detention facility in Biñan.

Marc Titus Cebreros, head of the CHR information and communications division, said yesterday they have summoned the police officers accused of torturing 15 people arrested for various crimes to extract information from them.

“If evidence warrants, we will file criminal charges against them, and provide assistance to the victims,” Cebreros said.

Under the game, the detainees were punched if the torture wheel stopped at “20 seconds Manny Pacman,” referring to boxer Manny Pacquiao, or hung upside down if it stopped at a punishment called “30-second bat.”

The 10 – Chief Inspector Arnold Formento, SPO1 Alexander Asis, PO3 Freddie Ramos, PO2 Marc Julius Caesar, PO2 Aldwin Tibuc, PO2 Melmar Baybado Viray, PO1 Nelson Caribo, SPO2 Bernardino Artisen, PO2 Mateo Cailo and PO2 Renan Galang – have been relieved from their posts.

According to Cebreros, the crime suspects allegedly tortured by the police officers have been transferred to the Biñan City jail.

CHR investigator Dennis dela Peña said they ordered the policemen to submit their counter-affidavits.

“The testimonies of the 15 detainees have been submitted to us, so we need to get the side of the police officers,” Dela Peña told The STAR in a phone interview.

Aside from administrative cases, Gatchalian said the suspects are facing charges of robbery, extortion and violation of Republic Act 9745 or the anti-torture law.

He said the policemen tried to extort money from the detainees in exchange for a lesser offense.  – Ed Amoroso, Rhodina Villanueva, Cecille Suerte Felipe