Two police officers from Toledo City are now facing murder charges after allegedly beating a 59-year-old mendicant to death in August 2024.
The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) also filed administrative complaints against the officers, who have denied the allegations.
According to NBI-Central Visayas Director Atty. Renan Oliva, the complaint was filed by Cristita Rosento Mahinay following the death of her brother, Eliseo Pañares Rosento.
The victim was declared dead on arrival at Toledo City District Hospital on the night of August 26, 2024.
His death certificate stated that the cause of death was intracranial hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury.
An investigation revealed that at around 6:45 PM on August 26, 2024, two officers from the Toledo City Police Office were seen beating a man inside their patrol car, a Mitsubishi Montero, near the Toledo City Catholic Cemetery in Poblacion, Toledo City, Cebu.
The assault was witnessed by several people, but many were too afraid to intervene.
The officers later left the scene with the victim still inside their patrol car.
At approximately 7:30 PM that same evening, they stopped at FERC Fuels gas station in Poblacion, Toledo City, where the two officers allegedly took turns beating the victim.
A security guard on duty witnessed the assault and heard the victim’s cries of pain until he fell silent around 8:00 PM. Shortly after, a man’s body was seen falling from the rear side of the patrol car’s driver seat.
The security guard immediately identified the officers as Patrolman Raymond Manipis and PMSG Sepjanrey Espares Roda, noting that they frequently parked at the gas station during their patrol duties.
The officers called for backup, and upon the arrival of a SWAT team, they claimed that the victim had fallen and hit his head on the pavement.
NBI-7 has taken statements from the two officers, who strongly denied any involvement in the crime. As of now, both officers remain on duty at their respective station.