Arakan, Cotabato – May 20, 2025
What began as a routine response to a vehicular accident has now escalated into a controversy involving questions of police conduct, medical neglect, and a family’s search for answers.
A man known only by his nickname, “alias Boy,” a tricycle driver involved in a crash in Barangay Kabalantian, died after spending time in the custodial facility of the Arakan Municipal Police Station (MPS). His family claims he was unconscious and unresponsive while in detention. The police, meanwhile, maintain that he was responsive, merely intoxicated, and under proper monitoring before he was turned over to his wife and later died.
A Disputed Chain of Events
On the early morning of May 18, “alias Boy” was turned over to the Arakan Police by barangay officials after being involved in a motorcycle accident. According to the police, he was intoxicated, initially uncooperative, and did not disclose his identity. Two others involved in the crash were brought to the hospital, but “alias Boy” was instead taken to the station.
Family members, however, dispute this version. Jes Sa S. Ulama, a relative, posted on Facebook that the man was “unconscious and unresponsive” while inside the custodial facility and was not brought to the hospital despite repeated pleas. They claim that police insisted he was fine and did not require further medical attention—an assessment allegedly made by police personnel themselves.
In videos recorded by the family during their visit to the station, the man can be seen lying down and reportedly unable to communicate. The relatives say they were denied permission to bring him to a hospital at that time, despite showing clear signs of distress.
Barangay Officials: He Was Coherent
Adding another layer of complexity, a barangay rescuer posted on social media clarifying that the man was initially brought to a barangay center, not directly to the police station. The post claims he was observed to be intoxicated but without major visible injuries, and that he even responded aggressively when touched. Because of this, they decided to turn him over to police custody.
When police initially refused to accept him without a medical check-up, the rescuers reportedly brought him back to the center. Upon reevaluation, they again found him stable enough to be brought to the station.
“We did our part,” said the rescuer, “We helped him the best we could—not to cause harm.”
Police Say Protocols Were Followed
In an official statement dated May 19, the Arakan MPS asserted that the man was monitored closely and that health protocols were followed. They claim his wife was advised to bring him to a hospital, but she allegedly prioritized settling the accident dispute with the victims’ relatives first.
Police also maintain that when the wife eventually decided to bring him to a hospital—German Doctors Hospital in Buda, Bukidnon—they released him into her care. He died that same afternoon.
Chief of Police PMAJ Reynante Pascua has called on the public to avoid spreading misinformation. “The Arakan PNP followed all necessary protocols,” he said, “and respected the decisions of the family. This case was properly handled.”
Unanswered Questions
Despite police assurances, relatives continue to raise critical concerns:
- Why was “alias Boy” not immediately brought to a hospital after the accident?
- Were the assessments made by trained medical personnel, or by police officers without medical expertise?
- Why were family members allegedly discouraged or prevented from taking him to the hospital earlier?
- What exactly caused his death—head trauma, or medical neglect?
The family also expressed concern over alleged threats from police, saying officers warned them against posting about the incident on social media and even mentioned filing charges.
“The family has the right to grieve and to seek accountability,” one relative said anonymously. “This isn’t about blaming—this is about justice.”
Awaiting Answers
As the family lays “alias Boy” to rest, calls are growing for an impartial investigation to determine what really happened during those critical hours between the accident and his death.
Was this an unfortunate tragedy that unfolded despite everyone’s best efforts—or a preventable death caused by lapses in care and judgment?
So far, neither the police nor the local government has announced an independent inquiry.
But for a grieving family and a shaken community, the search for truth has only just begun.