(April 12, 2021) – Another incident of abuse amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was reported on Sunday after a 26-year-old quarantine violator in Brgy. Turbina in Calamba, Laguna died after two barangay tanods allegedly beat him to death.
Ernanie Jimenez was caught outside his home past curfew hours at 11 pm last Wednesday. According to village officials, he was drunk and was not wearing a face mask.
Barangay chairman Rodel Manalo claimed Jimenez tried to escape several times when he was brought to the barangay hall, eventually injuring his head.
“Bumangga siya sa isang tao natin. Nabangga niya sa balikat. Doon na siya bumagsak, na-out of balance na siya. Pagbagsak niya pahiga na, ‘yun yung time na nabagok ‘yung ulo niya,” said Manalo.
Jimenez was brought to the hospital and was comatose for three days before his death.
His family is now calling for justice, saying that the physical abuse of the two barangay tanods, Joemel Ortiz and Arjay Abierta, caused the death of Jimenez.
Ortiz and Abierta defended themselves, insisting it was all an accident and that they didn’t hurt Jimenez.
“Malinis ‘yung konsensya ko doon kasi wala talagang foul play. ‘Yun lang naman talaga (nangyari). Naakusahan kami, bulung-bulungan na hindi naman talaga nila alam ang nangyari kaya napapasama na rin kami,” said Ortiz.
According to witnesses, however, Ortiz and Abierta intentionally beat up Jimenez for repeatedly trying to escape.
Ortiz and Abierta have been removed from their post to allow a thorough investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Mas magandang maibestigahan ng otoridad na may kapasidad kasi kung kami baka sabihin may papanigan o ano pa man. Sa akin naman, tao ko ‘yan, kung mali, wala tayong magagawa diyan, managot sa batas kung talagang mali,” said Manalo.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also look into the case, the latest among the recent abuse of law authorities in punishing quarantine violators amid the ECQ.
“I’ll try to inform the Region IV director of DILG to investigate on the matter, whether or not there was a violation of excessive force of implementing the curfew. But let me remind our tanods and our police not to use excessive force in apprehending or reminding our constituents,” said DILG undersecretary RJ Echiverri in an interview with Ted Failon and DJ Chacha sa Radyo5.
Last Saturday, 28-year-old Darren Peñaredondo passed away after two police officers forced him to do 300 squats after violating curfew hours in General Trias, Cavite.
PNP spokesperson Ildelbrandi Usana earlier announced police officers will be more lenient this year in dealing with quarantine violators, saying no arrests or interventions will be made.
(With reports from Gary De Leon, News 5, Kiko Demigillo/PM)
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