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Prisoner “loaned” to PMA dies

FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO CITY (July 5) — A “prisoner” at the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa currently “loaned” to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here by the Department of Justice (DoJ) died after being rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center on June 14.

Elpidio Tolentino Sr., an “insular prisoner” of the DoJ, died of Septicemia, an infection due to ruptured peptic ulcer, said Philippine Navy Lt. Alvin Lopez, PMA spokesperson. An “insular prisoner”, he said, is a prisoner due for release at the NBP with outstanding records while at the National Penitentiary. Insular prisoners, Lopez said further, are those held at the NBP who have at least or less than one year more before they complete their sentence.

The PMA had long been “loaning” prisoners from the NBP for the camp’s ground upkeep.

Tolentino’s cadaver was turned over to the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory for examination on June 15, 2005 while the case has already been referred to the Baguio City Police Office for an in-depth investigation and appropriate legal action.

Maltreated by soldiers?

The HSG’s probe however bared that Tolentino was allegedly maltreated by two enlisted personnel, Army Staff Sergeant Wiliam Galvan and Navy Petty Officer 3 Oscar Mangino for alleged infractions of rules and regulations on June 10.

Lopez however claimed that the victim was “an alcoholic and was possibly already suffering from Jejenum injury when he was maltreated”.

“Whatever the true cause of his (Tolentino) death was, authorities have determined that the enlisted personnel violated the Human Rights of the victim and that the said enlisted personnel will be held liable for their actions”, Lopez said.

Meanwhile, the Judge Advocate General (JAG) is also reviewing the case of the soldiers for Court Martial proceedings and other administrative sanctions. # Artemio A. Dumlao for NORDIS

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