SP investigates city police over procedures
Cops who rushed Zharlene to morgue, not to hospital, are now in hot water.
The city council is making an inquiry on the manner of response of the two members of the Dagupan Police to the case of Zharlene Yadao, daughter of a radio anchorman, was shot and mortally wounded at dawn of July 2.
The two policemen, SPO3 De Vera and SPO3 Mendones reportedly had the victim picked up by representatives of a funeral parlor at the crime scene instead of being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who chairs the council, said the council was alarmed by the police action.
“Why was the funeral parlor called in so quickly without any declaration from a doctor that Zharlene was already dead,” Fernandez told The PUNCH.
The mother of Zharlene, Susan Yadao, told the city council that when she arrived, her daughter was already being carried to a funeral coach.
Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa, city chief of police who appeared before the council’s weekly session last Monday, admitted there was impropriety in the handling of Zharlene’s case.
Verzosa said he has recommended to higher offices of the Philippine National Police the investigation of the two policemen.
The policemen declared Zharlene dead after examining her pulse rate and this was reportedly the reason why they called the funeral parlor from Calasiao town to pick up the body.
Councilor Jesus Canto, a former director of the Region 1 Medical Center, said only a doctor can declare a person dead, adding that this is done only when a flat line is registered in the echo cardiogram examination.
“But there are times when a victim of a shooting incident comes back to life even if he or she was already brought to the morgue,” said Canto, speaking from his experience as a doctor.
Councilor Farah Marie Decano hinted of a possible unholy alliance between some policemen and the funeral parlor in Calasiao, with policemen possibly getting a commission for victims referred to it.—LM
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