MPD exec axed over teen’s torture

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila Police District (MPD) official was ordered relieved by Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday over allegations that an 18-year-old homicide suspect was tortured while in police custody.

Inspector Danilo Anselmo, who has been chief of the MPD’s custodial and detection section for less than a week, was removed from his post and replaced by the previous MPD-CDS chief, Senior Police Officer 4 Alfonso Nueva.

Anselmo refused to comment on the allegations against him, saying he had just assumed his post.

During a press conference yesterday, Lim said the MPD’s homicide section “invited for questioning” Eduardo Arjeño and another man, who identified Romeo Viado, 18, as the one who reportedly killed 17-year-old Melvin Lingon at the Baseco Compound last week. The two men were released and Viado was detained at the CDS office, which is at the second floor of the MPD headquarters.  

On Tuesday, a source told The STAR that Viado’s mother, Adelina, sought the help of police officers and journalists, claiming that her son was allegedly tortured by police officers.

Adelina told reporters during yesterday’s press conference that her son did not kill Lingon and that he had suffered so much at the hands of police officers – she said her son seems to have lost his mind and is incapable of comprehending simple words.

However, some CDS police officers claim that Viado was tortured by fellow inmates and police officers had nothing to do with his ordeal.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez instructed homicide section chief Inspector Steve Casimiro to take Viado under their custody until the court orders his release.

Adelina said they have witnesses to prove that Arjeño and another man, not her son, killed Lingon.

Lim ordered Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel, who is in charge of the MPD’s directorial staff, to file the necessary papers with the prosecutor’s office for a reinvestigation of the case.