Witnesses against the five Bindoy police officers facing charges for allegedly mauling an inmate to death said they were offered certain amounts in exchange for the withdrawal of their testimonies.

Elvie Carollo, one of the witnesses, said the wife of one of the policemen-respondents offered him "bribe money," to retract his statements on the death of detainee Danilo Dicon, but he refused it. He, however, did not identify the woman. Carollo said that, through his testimony, justice will be served for the innocent Dicon, whose death was blamed on his manhandling allegedly by SPO1 Roberto Absin, PO2 Darwin Anhao, and PO1s Wenzel Torres, Rey Amaro and John Ray Vailoces, who are now restricted at the PNP Provincial Headquarters in Sibulan, pending investigation.

The victim had been endorsed to the Bindoy policemen for safe-keeping, after complaint for theft was made against him.

Police blotter reports revealed said that the victim died of drowning but witnesses claimed Dicon was mauled before he was pushed to the sea.

Carollo said he received reports that some of his co-witnesses must have withdrawn their testimonies as they left Bindoy last Wednesday. Reports also said a witness has gone to Cebu.

But Carollo said he hopes the investigation team of the police will render justice to the victim.

Meanwhile, the autopsy conducted by Dr. Rene Cam of the National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu confirmed positively that the victim was mauled, as shown by the marks on the left and right side of his head, chest and abdomen.

Results also showed the victim had bruises in some delicate parts of his body.

Cam added that the witnesses' testimonies coincide with his autopsy report, although the primary cause of Dicon's death was due to drowning.

Chief investigator Insp. Domeniciano Distrito said the five policemen could face criminal and administrative charges.

Some relatives of the victim have sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights Oriental Negros investigator Jesus Cañete, to fasttrack the case, and claimed they were afraid that the case might be influenced by politics.*MA

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