Five policemen assigned to the police station in Bindoy, Oriental Negros, are being recommended for temporary transfer to the provincial police office at Camp Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan, pending investigation on the death of a detained theft suspect. Insp. Domeniciano Distrito Jr., lead investigating officer of the NORPPO, was set to submit his recommendation to acting provincial police director Supt. Juanito Condes yesterday.

The four cops earlier linked to the death of Danilo Dicon, 48, a widower and resident of Bulod, Bindoy, by shoving him into the sea were identified as PO1s Wenzel Torres, John Ray Vailoces and Rey Amaro and PO2 Darwin Anhao.

Distrito identified a fifth suspect, SPO1 Roberto Absin. Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, who is now on leave, told the DAILY STAR the investigation report will provide basis for the possible filing of criminal and/or administrative charges against the policemen.

Dicon was earlier reported to have died of drowning after he had been turned over on July 5 to the police station by a municipal government utility worker, Undo Ledama, for allegedly stealing a goat belonging to Ledama's sister.

Distrito said he has talked to witnesses in Bindoy but declined to reveal the results of his investigation. Distrito's recommendation to place the five policemen under the custody of the Negros Oriental provincial police office is intended to provide transparency in the investigation on Dicon's death.

PO2 Anhao recorded the detention of the victim, where Ledama admitted slapping Dicon, although he added that no charges will be filed against the suspect, after the lapse of the reglementary period.

Dicon was allegedly mauled by the policemen while under detention.

Witnesses Elvie Carollo and Edmundo Vailoces pointed to them as having brought the victim near a sea wall, boxed and hit him with a stick.

They said they attempted to rescue Dicon, but were afraid as one of the policemen carried an M-16 rifle. Vailoces boxed the victim several times while Torres hit him with a piece of wood, the witnesses said.

He alleged that a police officer ordered the victim to wear a raincoat at noontime, under the heat of the sun, PO1 Amaro asked him to carry a barbell while Anhao ordered the suspect to do push-ups.

Fishermen Cesar Amaro, Juanito Amasula and Jessie Amaro said although they did not witness the mauling, they saw the policemen bringing the victim to the water and nearly drowned him.

The policemen, however, denied the accusations, calling them "concocted and fabricated." They pointed to Ledama as the one who admitted to have boxed the victim.

The police have asked the National Bureau of Investigation to send their medico legal officer, Dr. Rene Cama, to conduct an autopsy on Dicon.

Meanwhile, Bindoy chief of police Police, Inspector Edilberto Gravador, also directed the three policemen to submit to the probe. Gravador said he was not around at the police station when the incident happened.*JG/MA

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