Sacked cop in torture video pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - Dismissed policeman Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug who was caught on video torturing suspected thief Darius Evangelista inside a police station in Tondo, Manila pleaded not guilty to abuse charges yesterday.

Binayug pleaded innocent to charges of violating Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act during his arraignment at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 1.

Evangelista’s wife and relatives attended the court proceedings. They said Darius remains missing up to this day.

The hearing of the case was set on June 19.

Binayug was arrested Monday by elements of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) led by Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo while renewing his driver’s license at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Manila.

On Nov. 3, 2011, Manila RTC Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag issued a warrant for the arrest of Binayug, Inspector Rogelio Rosales Jr., SPO3 Joaquin de Guzman, SPO1 Rodolfo Ong Jr., SPO1 Dante Bautista, PO1 Nonito Binayug, PO1 Rex Binayug and several others for the torture of the alleged snatcher.

Rex had earlier surrendered while the other accused remain scot-free.

The Department of Justice recommended last year the filing of charges against Binayug who was then the head of the Asuncion police community precinct in Tondo, where the torture was filmed.

Witnesses Emmanuel Miranda, Sonny Lim and Renato Peralta positively identified the naked torture victim as Evangelista, while the one torturing him was Binayug. 

Binayug was dismissed from the service shortly after the video went viral on the Internet.