5 NAIA cops to be charged today for US Navy officer's death

MANILA, Philippines -  Five airport policemen will be charged with homicide due to negligence today for allegedly failing to prevent United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Scintar Mejia from committing suicide at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in December last year.

Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton said Senior Police Officer 2 Roberto Figueras, SPO1 Mateo Aguilas, PO2 Jay Guinto, PO2 Noel Liberted, and PO1 Jomer Zurbano were all “close or near Mejia” when he committed suicide on Dec. 26, 2010 at their headquarters at the NAIA.

Cuaton said the charges will be lodged after Mejia’s widow, Donna, submitted to them her complaint affidavit through the US embassy.

Cuaton said Donna’s affidavit, sworn before the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles, California, was based on the findings of Pasay City police that the five policemen “failed” to prevent Mejia from committing suicide a day after he was caught with what was initially thought to be cocaine. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the powdery substance was not cocaine.

In an 18-page investigative report, probers said the airport policemen “committed negligence and laxity as to how they handled Mejia, who was arrested for being an unruly passenger and eventually held for investigation for possible possession of illegal drug,” the report said.

The investigators said Mejia’s custodians “are seemingly unaware that it is their duty to provide protection, care and necessary safeguards to Mejia while undergoing custodial investigation.”

Probers led by Chief Inspector Raymund Liguden also ruled out foul play in Mejia’s death, saying there is no evidence that could prove that the US official was manhandled while under the airport policemen’s custody.

Autopsy findings by PNP’s Dr. Joseph Palmero, however, said Mejia’s body bore injuries indicating he was beaten.

Police said people who last saw Mejia stated that he has been acting “weird” since his arrival on Dec. 25, 2010.

Taxi driver Redentor Lotho, hired by Mejia to take him around, said the latter often changed his mind on where to stay and what to do.

His family and officers at the US Navy did not know that Mejia, a Filipino-American, would go to the Philippines, the police added.