DOJ plays down CHR probe of Ivler 'mistreatment'

The Department of Justice (DOJ) shrugged off on Wednesday a plan by the Commission on Human Rights to probe alleged violations of road rage suspect Jason Ivler's rights. In a radio interview, DOJ Secretary Agnes Devanadera defended the security measures on Ivler, including handcuffing him to his hospital bed. "I'll just take note of that supposed investigation. Have we forgotten the victim of Ivler's shooting? Or have we forgotten about his parent's attempt to hide him?" Devanadera told dzXL radio in Filipino. Devanadera was referring to the threat of Ivler's mother Marlene Aguilar-Pollard to seek help from the Commission on Human Rights over alleged violations of the suspect's rights. Aguilar-Pollard has questioned the handcuffing of Ivler, who had engaged agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in a shootout before his capture in his mother's house in Quezon City last January 18, to his hospital bed. Ivler remains at a Quezon City hospital after being wounded in the shootout. He faces murder charges for the killing of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. last November 18. Ebarle's father is the presidential chief of staff. Aguilar-Pollard was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly hiding him in the basement of her house. Devanadera scored Aguilar-Pollard for trying to shift attention away from the real issues. She noted that the mother had lied when the government was tracking Ivler down, even suggesting that he had fled abroad. — NPA, GMANews.TV