Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 256

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Introduced by Reps. TEDDY A. CASIÑO, NERI JAVIER
COLMENARES and LORENZO R. TAÑADA III

RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES’ STRONG
CONDEMNATION OVER THE FLAGRANT AND SADISTIC ACT OF
TORTURE APPARENTLY PERPETRATED BY THE POLICE CHIEF OF
A PRECINCT IN ASUNCION, TONDO, MANILA, ON A CRIME
SUSPECT, AS EXPOSED IN A VIDEO SURFACED BY ABS-CBN
TELEVISION NETWORK ON AUGUST 17, 2010

WHEREAS, on August 17, 2010, ABS-CBN News broadcast on TV Patrol

an exclusive video of a robbery suspect being tortured by an alleged
police officer in a precinct in Asuncion, Tondo, Manila. The video shows
a naked man with his genitals tied with rope. A man wearing a white
shirt and denim shorts is shown whipping the victim on the face and
his torso while pulling the rope binding the man’s genitals. The torturer
curses the victim and tells him, “Bawal ang snatcher dito.” A couple of
people, including a police officer in uniform, watch while the torture
ensues;

WHEREAS, the person who turned over the cell phone video (dubbed
as “Emil”) told ABS-CBN he got it from a friend who is now in hiding for
fear of reprisals for the exposé. According to Emil, the victim is a
notorious criminal who is being forced to own up to a hold-up incident.
Emil said such torture is often done by the police especially during
times when there are a lot of reported crimes. Eventually, the police
kill these people and claim that they were killed in a shootout. He said
the victim in the video was also killed. He also said that the torturer is
the police chief of the precinct, later identified as Capt. Joey Binayug;

WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights of the Constitution states that the use of
physical, psychological or degrading punishment on prisoners or
detainees is a punishable act;
WHEREAS, the perpetrators apparently violated Republic Act No. 9745
or the “Anti-Torture Act of 2009,” by intentionally inflicting severe
physical pain and shame on the victim for the purpose of punishing or
coercing him into admitting a crime. Not only does the person in
authority, in this case the police chief of the precinct, give his consent
but if the story is to be believed, it is he himself who perpetrated the
heinous crime of torture. Under R.A. 9745, the perpetrator could face a
12 to 20 year prison sentence and can be sentenced to life
imprisonment if the victim dies;

WHEREAS, such brazen and inhumane acts showing complete

disregard for human rights and due process not only put the country’s
law enforcement service to shame, but left alone, will strengthen the
culture of impunity in the violation of human rights;

WHEREAS, Congress, from which R.A. 9745 emanated, is compelled

to condemn such a gross violation of a landmark law criminalizing
torture. Congress has to send the message that it will never tolerate
such inhuman and cruel acts;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED,

that the House of Representatives express strong condemnation over
the flagrant and sadistic act of torture apparently perpetrated by the
police chief of a precinct in Asuncion, Tondo, Manila on a crime
suspect, as exposed in a video surfaced by ABS-CBN Television
Network on August 17, 2010.

Adopted,

TEDDY A. CASIÑO
Bayan Muna Party-list

NERI JAVIER COLMENARES LORENZO R. TAÑADA III

Bayan Muna Party-list Quezon,
4th Dist.