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Defending 'secret jail' very arrogant: Lacson

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/04/20170427-police-detention-fsj.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Commission on Human Rights Director Gilbert Boisner opens a secret door, masked by a cabinet, that leads to a hidden detention area at the Manila Police District Station 1. At least 10 detainees alleged that they were being held at the 1 x 3-meter detention waiting for &quot;ransom&quot; so they can be freed. Station 1 Commander Supt. Robert Domingo denied the allegation and said the detainees were awaiting inquest. <cite>Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the existence of a secret jail cell in a Tondo police station is &quot;too plain view&quot; to ignore after the nation&#x27;s top cop questioned why the Commission on Human Rights was investigating the jail during the ASEAN summit.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/17/higit-10-tao-ikinulong-sa-secret-jail-sa-manila-police-district">Higit 10 tao, ikinulong sa &#x27;secret jail&#x27; sa Manila Police District</a></li></ul><p>In a text message, Lacson said the Manila Police District station secret jail is &quot;too &#x27;plain view&#x27; to ignore.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Defending its existence is a virtual defense of the indefensible,&quot; he said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1454676" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>He also criticized Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa for defending police officers in the Tondo police station even before the PNP Internal Affairs Service could initiate an investigation.</p><p>&quot;Defending an unlivable prison cell hidden behind a book shelf inside a police station is incomprehensible. It is also very arrogant,&quot; he said in a separate tweet.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Defending an unlivable prison cell hidden behind a book shelf inside a police station is incomprehensible. It is also very arrogant.</p>— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) <a href="http://twitter.com/iampinglacson/status/858621506812641280">April 30, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Last Thursday, the CHR found 12 men and women detained inside a cramped room hidden behind a wooden cabinet in the Raxabago police station in Tondo.</p><p>The CHR said there was no record of the arrest and inquest proceedings for the detainees, who alleged that cops held them in the facility for a week, <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/video/04/28/17/secret-jail-nadiskubre-sa-manila-police-district"><strong>without notifying their families or lawyers</strong></a>.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/multimedia/slideshow/04/27/17/look-secret-jail-cell-in-manila-police-station-reveals-detainees">LOOK: &#x27;Secret jail cell&#x27; in Manila police station reveals detainees</a></li></ul><p>The detainees also accused policemen of torturing them and demanding money for their freedom.</p><p>One detainee said she was asked to pay P50,000 after being accused of having links to the drug trade.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/17/babae-sa-secret-jail-hiningan-ng-p50-k-kapalit-ng-kalayaan">Babae sa &#x27;secret jail,&#x27; hiningan ng P50-K kapalit ng kalayaan</a></li></ul><p>For his part, PNP chief Dela Rosa questioned the timing of the CHR&#x27;s inspection, which coincided with the ongoing ASEAN summit.</p><p>&quot;As long as the prisoners were not tortured or extorted, it&#x27;s okay with me,&quot; he told reporters.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/17/dela-rosa-defends-secret-jail-holding-drug-suspects">Dela Rosa defends &#x27;secret jail&#x27; holding drug suspects</a></li></ul><p>International rights monitor Human Rights Watch on Saturday called on the Philippines to free all &quot;unlawfully detained&quot; suspects and abolish unofficial police lock-up cells.</p><p>&quot;Secret jails may just be one more form of police criminality that has multiplied during the drug war,&quot; the group&#x27;s deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said in a statement. <strong>With Agence France Presse</strong></p>

<p>Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the existence of a secret jail cell in a Tondo police station is "too plain view" to ignore after the nation's top cop questioned why the CHR was investigating the jail during the ASEAN summit.</p>

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the existence of a secret jail cell in a Tondo police station is "too plain view" to ignore after the nation's top cop questioned why the CHR was investigating the jail during the ASEAN summit.