Ex-OFW who died in jail a victim of ‘hulidap'?

MANILA, Philippines — The brother of Allan Rafael, who died in police custody in Quiapo, Manila, yesterday alleged that Allan was a victim of “hulidap,” accusing police of stealing his brother’s watch and smart phone when he was arrested on alleged drug charges.

Aarun Rafael, a security guard, yesterday said his brother Allan (who was 35 years old, not 21 as earlier reported), a former overseas Filipino worker, had to go back home from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to focus on his chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer.

A breadwinner of the family, Allan was supposed to undergo his second chemotherapy next week. 

Allan had already paid the P80,000 for his chemotherapy when he was arrested on Aug. 3 on what his brother said were trumped-up charges of breach of peace and possession of illegal drugs.

‘Originals’

Aarun said when Allan was arrested at a checkpoint on Recto Avenue for allegedly having an altercation with his housemate Sherwin Angeles, the police officers, allegedly wearing civilian clothes, asked him if the G-Shock watch he wore and his iPhone were “originals.” 

These were then taken from his brother and have yet to be returned to him, Aarun said.

“It was ‘hulidap,’” Aarun told The STAR at the wake of his brother in Maypajo, Caloocan. “That was why they were asking if they were originals. It was a set-up.” 

Aarun denied that his brother was using drugs when he was allegedly caught with a sachet of shabu at the checkpoint. 

When he visited his brother last Sunday at the Barbosa police precinct, Allan told him he was slapped and punched in the chest, where he just had surgery to remove a swelling, Aarun said.

Aarun said his brother was forced to admit he was a drug user, because the police said he looked like an addict due to his gaunt look brought about by his chemotherapy.

“How could he have used drugs when he was undergoing chemo? He was just being forced by the police to admit he was using drugs. He could not have died if he was not beaten up,” Aarun said.

Since undergoing treatment, his brother’s hair had started to grow, said Aarun, but he still looked frail due to his treatment.

Big dreams

Allan and Aarun are the second and third of five children, who were brought up by their parents who tend to their farm in Leyte. His parents were survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

While confined at the Philippine General Hospital last year, Allan said he wanted to beat his cancer because he still had dreams to achieve for himself and his family, Aarun said.

Since leaving his job as a chef in Jeddah, Allan dreamed of working as a chef on a ship, Aarun said,

“He said he still had big dreams. That’s why he was fighting his illness. I just talked to him last Sunday. He was healthy then. And then, he would suddenly die? It’s baffling to me,” Aarun said.

MPD denies torture claim

In a statement, Manila Police District spokesperson Superintendent Carlo Manuel denied the allegations that Allan was tortured and  “slain” while in custody.

MPD lead homicide investigator Senior Inspector Rommel Anicete earlier said the National Bureau of Investigation autopsy report did not show that Allan did not die from being beaten up. 

Allan was also detained at the Barbosa police precinct’s less crowded detention facility for humanitarian reasons, Anicete said.

While the initial cause of death was hypovolemic shock secondary to massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding, the autopsy report said Rafael died of cardiorespiratory arrest.

Police also said he vomited blood when he was rushed to the hospital before he died.