Kauswagan Mayor brutally torture the cattle rustling suspect

Kauswagan Mayor brutally torture the cattle rustling suspect

Mastermind suspect Elvin Sanchez

Iligan City (April 3, 2015) – Cattle rustling suspect was brutally tortured by Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. This was revealed by the suspect-victim Elvin Sanchez a resident of Purok 4, Poblacion, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Sanchez, a farmer with 6 children and separated from his wife said that he was arrested by police on March 30, 2015 at around 11:00 O’clock in the morning in Barangay Poblacion of Kauswagan due to the alleged of being a cattle rustling mastermind. Police authorities said, a certain Marvin Ruben was arrested on the evening of March 29 in Napo, Linamon, Lanao del Norte bringing and walk with him a cattle along the road. Upon reaching the paramilitary checkpoint, Ruben was apprehended and interrogated on who was the owner of the cattle he brings, but no answer was found and it was the reason for the arrest of Ruben and he was turnover to the Linamon police, then the Linamon police turnover him to the Kauswagan police. Police authorities said Ruben pinpointed a certain Elvin Sanchez as the mastermind of the cattle rustling in Kauswagan. Immediately the Kauswagan police manhunted Sanchez and was able to arrest the latter and detained in Kauswagan police detention cell.  

Sanchez pointed injuries in his feet

On the evening of March 31, at around 8:00 O’clock in the evening, Sanchez said that Mayor Rommel Arnado arrived at the police station to investigate Sanchez about the cattle rustling case inside the office of the Kauswagan chief of police. Another suspect Marvin Ruben was also included in that meeting. Sanchez said that Arnado repeatedly asked questions to him on where was the carabao dispersed from the government given to his brother as beneficiary from the Department of Agriculture (DA), which was previously missing prior to the recent cattle rustling incident. Sanchez said that he was accused of inside job by the people of cattle rustling whose farm animal owned by his  brother but he denied of doing it and he further denied participation of the series of cattle rustling cases in Kauswagan. Sanchez said when Arnado asked Ruben about the cattle rustling cases, Ruben pointed to Sanchez as the mastermind and had participation in all the series of cattle rustling in Kauswagan. Sanchez said that Ruben also mentioned a certain Alex Limbo as the Boss of Sanchez. Sanchez said that he knew Marvin Ruben and Alex Limbo but not so much friends as they are. Sanchez questioning his arrest because Ruben was a liar accusing him his participation and he had no knowledge about the crime. Sanchez said that only Ruben should deserved to be arrested because he was caught in the act and not to include him. Sanchez said anybody can easily accused any person of a certain crime but need to be proven. Sanchez said he was in their farm in upper Bagumbayan during the time Ruben was arrested. Sanchez said that he till their lands of almost 3 hectares. Sanchez said Arnado irked to him of answering questions deniably. He said that Arnado pulled out a solid round rattan stick and strike him several times forced him to admit the cases of cattle rustling.

Sanchez pointed injuries in his ear

Sanchez pointed his injuries in his head

Sanchez said that Arnado hit him the rattan stick in many parts of his body, suffered injuries in his foot, hands and head and he collapsed caused him landed in a hospital at the Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City. Sanchez said the hazing was happened in the evening of March 31 and he was admitted in the hospital on the following day of April 1 because he was already very weak. He said that the police personnel brought him to the hospital. Police authorities said that Marvin Ruben is vital witness to the case against Sanchez together with the owner of the cattle pressing charges of thief against Sanchez and Ruben and the case was already filed in court for inquest proceedings. Police authorities added that whenever there was complaint on cases of thief on livestock and farm animals in Kauswagan the name of Sanchez will always mentioned as suspect but they cannot arrest Sanchez due to lack of evidences. Sanchez and his family said that they will file charges against Mayor Arnado of torturing him inside the police station office. Human rights advocates said that Mayor Arnado was violating the anti-torture law and the human rights law against Elvin Sanchez. Sanchez added that Police personnel had nothing to do of torturing him inside the police station office. Sanchez is now on recovery stage in the hospital suffering from trauma, said that the first hearing of the case against him is on April 10, 2015.