CHR to monitor probe into serial robber's death

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will monitor the investigation of the death of a suspected serial robber and rapist inside the Quezon City Hall of Justice Monday night.

Lawyer Marc Titus Cebreros of the CHR said the bureau will ensure that there would no whitewash by the investigating body, whether it be the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the the National Bureau of Investigation.

READ: Serial robber, rapist killed inside QC office

"We will just monitor whether the PNP complies with its primary duty to investigate the death of a suspect in their custody," Cebreros said.

Suspect Mark Soque, 29, was killed after he tried to wrestle a gun from his police escort after the inquest proceedings at the 4th floor of the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office Monday.

Cebreros clarified that the CHR is not "pro-criminals" but "pro-human rights."

"International human rights legal standards require that  for each unnatural death, there must an inquiry to make sure that it was not arbitrary or extrajudicial," the lawyer said.

"We are not saying that the PNP did something wrong. But since the fiscal himself saw what happened, the circumstances would be clarified and foul play or negligence can be ruled out," Cabreros added.