The relatives of an inmate in the Caloocan City Jail, who died recently after allegedly being assaulted in what is known as takalan by jail guards and the prison’s mayor, are seeking justice.
The family of the victim, identified as Jenold Latara, 34, a native of General Santos City, is calling on P/Col. Samuel Mina, Caloocan City’s chief of police and Caloocan City Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan to help them get an autopsy and clarify what really happened to the victim.
Based on the statement by Latara’s wife, city jail personnel called his sister around 1 p.m. on 19 March 2021 informing her he was allegedly at the Caloocan City Medical Center.
However, when they reached the hospital they were sent to the morgue where they found Latara’s body.
His family questioned the circumstance that led to his death because he was lively when he made a video call to his sister and parents on 17 and 18 March 2021. However, he complained that he could not walk well because he had just received a beating, which he said normally occurred in jail.
Latara’s sister said she even went to the city jail on 17 March 2021 to give him P1,500, which she handed over to the prison guards. She even confronted a jail guard who apparently filched the money she earlier asked to be given to the victim.
However, the victim called his sister about the incident because he was almost beaten for it. He said he knelt and begged before an unnamed person not to be beaten. They said this was the last time they were able to talk to Latara.
Wanting to know what happened to her husband, Latara’s wife went to the jail and met someone who told her her husband was beaten up. He fell ill after a beating he had that injured his leg, the man said.
Latara’s death certificate, which was signed by city jail officials more than a week after his death, said he allegedly died of acute respiratory failure. It also indicated he had asthma, which his wife and siblings denied.
Likewise, city jail officials said the victim did not die inside their premises but at the hospital. However, CCMC said Latara was already dead when he was brought to the hospital, which was the reason why it did not issue the death certificate.
The city jail explained the victim was rushed to CCMC because he was suspected of being infected with Covid-19. However, Latara’s family said the prison management did not administer a swab test on the victim, which would have let them know if his remains could be buried or would have to be cremated.
The victim’s wife and sister added when they saw the victim’s body, he had a large wound on his thigh that his wife said he did not have before.