The Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday launched its own investigation into the death of a former female detainee who was allegedly robbed by 11 policemen and raped by their team leader.
“The Commission is already conducting an independent probe on the incident and shall look into all angles of the case as Police Staff Sergeant Celso Lucero Colita, one of the identified suspects also was reported to have shot himself on the same night of Ritchie Nepomuceno’s death,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
“Our regional office has already deployed field investigators to reach out to other complainants and the family of the victim,” she added.
Authorities are digging deeper into supposed drug involvement and love triangle behind the killing of Nepomuceno, 35, in Cebu City on April 19.
Unidentified men shot Nepomuceno, who was among three victims claiming they were tortured by the police officers inside a secret room at the Sawang Calero police station.
On April 6, the secret room disappeared after the CHR in Central Visayas attempted to inspect the police station.
Colita shot himself dead inside the comfort room of the Regional Special Operations Group hours before Nepomuceno was killed.
Nepomuceno accused Colita of raping her twice while she was in police custody.