Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Raps eyed vs 11 cops in Navy man’s death

By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: February 02, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Pasay City police have recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against 11 members of the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) in connection with the death of a US Navy officer who reportedly committed suicide following his arrest for drug possession at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 last year.

Pasay police chief, Senior Supt. Napoleon Cuaton, recommended the filing of charges of negligence resulting in homicide against SPO2 Roberto Figueras, SPO1 Mateo Aguilas, Police Officers 2 Jay Guinto and Noel Libertad and PO1 Jomer Zurbano for their failure to take action which may have prevented victim Lt. Cmdr. Scintar Mejia from falling, jumping or committing suicide, resulting in his death.

Based on the probe conducted by Chief Insp. Raymund Liguden, Pasay investigation unit chief, the five policemen were near Mejia when he jumped to his death on December 27, 2010.

Cuaton also recommended the conduct of a pre-charge evaluation to determine the administrative liabilities of the five policemen and their six other colleagues, namely, Chief Insp. Norberto Lumbera Jr., SPO1 Melencio Vivencio, PO2 Mark Anthony Gobaton, Police Officers 2 Sherwin Somido and Dante Meneses and PO1 Emmanuel Ponce.

This was after they “were found sleeping or failing to have properly performed their respective duties and responsibilities when Mejia was apprehended and placed under custodial investigation” at the Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS).

A report by the airport police showed that Mejia, 35, a Filipino-American citizen, jumped headfirst into a stairwell on the second floor of the PCAS building.

A day before his death, airport policemen accosted him at the airport pre-departure area for unruly behavior and after an X-ray check of his hand-carried bag showed a sachet that contained a white powdery substance.

Mejia, who held a US diplomatic passport, was then about to board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles.

When he was asked about the contents of the sachet, he went into hysterics and threw the item in question at the operator of the X-ray machine. He claimed that he was being framed.

Mejia was subsequently taken to the PCAS office for questioning. On Monday morning, he asked to go to the toilet. While being escorted there in handcuffs, he ran off and jumped into a stairwell. He fell headfirst from a height of at least 10 feet.

An autopsy showed that Mejia had sustained a deep wound and a rib fracture, injuries he did not have before an attempt was made to revive him.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

One Man's View

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515701716806731050

Monday, January 24, 2011

Man of Real Merit

"A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy, reaps friendship;

he who plants kindness, gathers love; pleasure bestowed on a grateful mind was never sterile, but generally gratitude begets reward."

-- St. Basil

Fighting for Justice

(L-R) Pulits, Jing, Jo Ann, Juris, & James

"In the fight for justice, we never rest."

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Plot Thickens

IS IT MURDER?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/47174228/issue31vol2-of-Dyaryo-Magdalo

Dyaryo Magdalo rules that US Navy officer was murdered at NAIA on Dec. 27, 2010. Lt. Cmdr. Scintar Mejia did not commit suicide.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/DYARYO-MAGDALO-The-Weekly-That-Fears-No-One/274042866454

“If everyone howled at every injustice, every act of barbarism,

every act of unkindness, then we would be taking the first step

towards a real humanity.” -- Nelson DeMille

Final Farewell

"Goodbyes are not forever.

Goodbyes are not the end."

The fight for justice continues...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Prayers for Our Dearly Departed

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,

And let perpetual light shine upon him."

(Heart) Breaking News

(Photo from ABS-CBN news.com website)

us-navy-officer-did-not-commit-suicide

Role of aviation police in Fil-Am naval officer's death probed http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/31/10/role-aviation-police-fil-am-naval-officers-death-probed

Fil-Am naval officer not carrying drugs: PDEA http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/12/28/10/fil-am-naval-officer-not-carrying-drugs-pdea

US navy officer jumps to death after cocaine bust http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/12/27/10/us-navy-officer-jumps-death-after-cocaine-bust

Cops still probing US Navy man’s death

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20110102-312184/Cops-still-probing-US-Navy-mans-death

US probes death of US Navy officer; PDEA says no drugs in victim’s bag

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20101229-311446/US-probes-death-of-US-Navy-officer-PDEA-says-no-drugs-in-victims-bag

Fil-Am Navy officer kills self at NAIA

http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20101227-311247

Manila Airport Police in the spotlight in death of US Navy Officer

http://mikeinmanila.info/?p=1787

Excerpts:

"The news reports have gone around world on the circumstances in the death of a US Naval officer in Police custody at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila. Many wire agencies put the story into over 1400 newspapers and websites world wide."

"Mejia, and his shipmates are regularly tested and go through extensive screening by Navy and US customs as well as IRS officials to ensure that there are no personnel aboard who may be involved with the narcotics trade.

"Per the US SECNAV report to the US congress – the men and women assigned to anti-narcotics operations are those with no history of drug use or trafficking.

"Obviously this was something overlooked in many manila media reports – which – also did not take into consideration his rank. Lt Commander, which is the equivalent of a Major in the Army.

"Officers and men and women who serve on US ships, in particular those involved in counter drug efforts are among the most drug screened in the US law enforcement. Weekly random drug testing, and lifestyle checks on shore are common."