‘Slain’ inmate’s relatives threaten charges vs Malabon jail officials

Relatives of the Malabon City jail inmate, whose death over the weekend was later found out by crime lab experts to have been, "in all probability," the result of foul play, are threatening to file charges against city jail officials for criminal neglect.

Benjo Soliman, 35, half brother of victim Oliver Maniscan, 27, of 24 Adante street, Tanong, Malabon City, yesterday sought the help of the media after learning about the recent findings of the Northern Police District Crime Laboratory.

An aunt of the victim, who requested anonymity, told The STAR she wants justice for the death of her nephew. She said she had received advice and is now preparing a letter addressed to DILG Secretary Joey Lina seeking assistance in the family’s resolve to pin down the perpetrators.

The woman also lamented that she was informed of her nephew’s death some eight hours later when they could have easily called them on the phone.

She said they would not have known something was amiss until the crime lab experts, headed by Senior Inspector Rio Gatacilo of the NPDO Crime Laboratory Office, released their findings.

Malabon City jail warden, Chief Inspector Mariano Andres, now facing charges on the principle of command responsibility over the incident, yesterday expressed surprise when apprised of the SOCO’s findings.

"That cannot happen here since I have been implementing the rules strictly. I have instructed my men not to "touch" the inmates," he said.

On the likelihood that jail personnel are involved in the incident, Andres said he is open for investigation.

"If evidence warrants it, we will file the necessary charges against erring jail personnel," Andres said.

Maniscan, detained on July 3 at the city jail on charges of malicious mischief and unjust vexation, was taken to the Pagamutang Lungsod ng Malabon early Saturday morning after experiencing nausea, dizziness and difficulty in breathing. At around 2:30 a.m., he was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors. The police report showed he died "due to undetermined causes."

Senior Inspector Filemon Porciuncula Jr., Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) medico-legal officer who autopsied the victim’s body, said Maniscan died of "hemorrhagic shock secondary to rupture of the urinary bladder (pantog.)"

"I collected some two liters of coagulated blood in the victim’s abdominal cavity. The bladder sustained a seven by five centimeter laceration," said Porciuncula adding that the injury could have been caused by the application of traumatic force from a blunt object, much bigger than the fist.

Porciuncula suggested that there was foul play as indicated by his findings. Except for hematoma in the pubic region, Maniscan showed no external signs of injury.

"Most probably, the blunt object rammed into his abdomen was wrapped with something, like a towel (sapin) so no marks would be seen on the area of impact," the officer said. – Jerry Botial