CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- Biñan City police are now investigating the mysterious deaths of four inmates, including a female detainee, at their custodial facilities consecutively on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Case investigators SPO2 Jimmy Custodio and PO1 Mikelle Cabrera reported Wednesday the death of 36-year-old inmate Jayvee Cruz Lapuz, resident of Barangay Pansol, Calamba City who was rushed to the Ospital ng Biñan around 6 p.m. on Christmas Day for medical intervention after he complained of difficulty in breathing while inside the male custodial facility.
Duty custodian officer PO1 John Eric A. Valentino sought assistance from the Biñan Emergency Response Unit (BERU) to bring Lapuz to the hospital but the victim was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Shunnel Puyaoan around 6:25 p.m.
Police said the victim’s body was subjected to an autopsy examination while informing the family and the court which has jurisdiction over the illegal drugs case. He was arrested last Dec. 13 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Earlier, the Biñan City police also reported the death of 60-year-old inmate Luisito Mendiola Abella, resident of Barangay San Antonio in Biñan City also facing an illegal drug case and has been on detention since Sept. 21 this year.
According to Cabrera, Abella was rushed to Ospital ng Biñan for medical intervention after suffering from breathing difficulty while under detention at the male custodial facility.
The same duty custodian officer, PO1 Valentino, sought the assistance of the Biñan Emergency Response Unit (BERU) to bring the inmate to the said hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Elaine Therese Co around 4:10 p.m.
Abella’s family was informed of the incident as the victim’s body was subjected for autopsy examination at the hospital morgue. The court handling Abella’s case will also be informed of the incident.
On Christmas Eve, investigators also reported the deaths of two inmates about 13 hours apart involving 37-year-old inmate Ronald Bayani Benjamin, a Barangay Canlalay resident who also expired around 2:19 a.m. last Dec. 24 while 29-year-old female inmate Analyn Tanjora Lodor, a resident of Carmona, Cavite died around 3:10 p.m. on the same day.
Police investigation disclosed that Benjamin who is facing an illegal drug case was also rushed to the Ospital ng Biñan through the assistance of the BERU after suffering breathing difficulty inside the male custodial facility.
According to the attending physician Dr. Shunnel Puyaoan, Benjamin succumbed to cardiac respiratory arrest. His remains were brought to the John Paul Funeral Services for autopsy examinations, as police will be informing the family about his death.
On the other hand, female detainee Lodor, who is also facing illegal drug charges, was given medical intervention also due to breathing difficulty and chest pain while inside the police female custodial facility located at the Old Municipal Hall in the Biñan City poblacion.
According to duty custodian officer PO1 Beverly W. Lappao, she also sought BERU assistance to rush Lodor to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival around 3:10 p.m. by attending physician Dr. Roselito Ocampo. (PNA)
