A student’s mysterious death

EDITORIAL

The death of Stephen Galidan, a 19-year-old a student of the Mountain Province Polytechnique College in the capital town of Bontoc, allegedly in the hands of four policemen has ignited a lot of protest actions.

Protesters want justice for Galidan and a speedy investigation on the cause of his death considering it’s been two weeks and police have not yet released results of an investigation which was taken over by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Early last week in Baguio City, Anakbayan and other student organizations staged an indignation rally at Malcolm Square pressing authorities to hasten the probe.

According them, the circumstances on the death of Galican points to police culpability considering he was under their custody when he died.

A regional police report said investigation was being conducted by Mountain Province police on involvement of SPO4 Rolando K. Bagangan; SPO4 Michael T. Napaeg; SPO3 Lester A. Faba-an, SPO2 Gaspar M. Suagen and PO3 Raul T. Fagsao on the death of Galidan.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez said if found guilty, they will be held liable for their actions and appropriate sanctions will be imposed against them. The cops were relieved from Bontoc police and reassigned to provincial police office pending investigation even as a rally was held in Bontocprotesting the manner of Galidan’s death, which a thousand people joined. 

The NBI has not yet released results of autopsy on Galidan’s body. A hastening of the probe on the matter is in order so the issue on how Galidan died would become clearer. This would determine the culpability of the four cops or their innocence considering some purported witnesses said Galidan jumped from the police car which resulted to his death while others say he was mauled by the cops..

This, as Bontoc officer-in-charge Insp. Alyson Fonang Kalang-ad relinquished his post Nov. 17 to Senior Insp. Richard PilacanSoliven who assumed as chief of police pursuant to Special Orders No. 11-10, dated Nov. 17, 2014, signed by acting provincial police director Senior Supt. Oliver Alilis Enmodias.

Kaalang-ad’s replacement may have been due to the controversy which has rocked the otherwise peaceful town of Bontoc.