‘Torture cop’ denies crime during Senate probe

Police Inspector Joselito Binayug on Thursday denied during a Senate hearing that he was the policeman shown in a video torturing a suspect in a Manila precinct. “Hindi po ako yun (That wasn't me)," Binayug told Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada who asked him point black if he was the one who tortured suspected thief Darius Evangelista, who remains missing as of Thursday. The investigation was conducted by the Senate committees on justice and public order. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed charges against Binayug and eight other policemen for the alleged torture incident. Chief Superintendent Robert Rongavilla, deputy regional director for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said Binayug was identified by Evangelista’s wife and other witnesses as the one in the torture video. “According to the witnesses and the complainant, it was him," Rongavilla, who also heads the task force formed to look into the alleged torture incident, told senators. Why deny? Estrada, not satisfied with Binayug’s denial, pressed the embattled policeman for more answers. “Why do you deny it, tinuro ka na (you were identified by witnesses)," he said. Binayug, however, could not defend his statement. “I don’t know, your honor," he said. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was also present during the hearing, said they are aware of the recent reports of police tortures around the country. “We are very conscious of what’s happening," he said. “We’re concerned that it is also happening outside of Metro Manila." - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV