POLICE are investigating 891 cops for the deaths of almost 500 suspected criminals in police custody since President Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed office in July 2016, its Internal Affairs Service (IAS) said yesterday.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said 119 commissioned officers and 772 non-commissioned officers ranging from patrolmen to lieutenant colonels are under probe for the suspects’ deaths.

“Some of these officials are police chiefs of towns and cities,” he said by telephone.

The policemen could be fired if it is proven that the victims had died under questionable circumstances, he said.

“Prisoners are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Mr. Triambulo said. “It’s the responsibility of the government to secure these inmates while in their custody.”

Deaths of suspects under police custody from January to September this year reached 236, 71 percent higher than the 138 deaths recorded for 2018, he said.

Police spokesman Brigadier General Bernard Banac told reporters they would check for any irregularities in the deaths.

Mr. Triambulo said 343 suspects had died of various illnesses, while 38 died after allegedly commiting suicide in jail. “Some of them allegedly killed themselves using the firearms which they took from police officers,” he said.

Ten suspects were killed by policemen after they allegedly put up a fight, he said, adding that the remaining 96 prisoners died from other reasons.

Meanwhile, three suspected drug dealers were arrested and police seized about 40 grams of crystal meth worth about P272,000 during a raid in Quezon City yesterday, Colonel Ronnie Montejo, acting director of the Quezon City Police District, said.

Cops arrested the trio after they sold the drugs to a policeman posing as a drug buyer, he said. — Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

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