5 policemen face raps over escaped inmates

Five personnel from the Provincial Intelligence Bureau-7 and the Regional Investigation Division-7, including PIB-7 chief Supt. Juanito Enguerra, were administratively charge in relation to the escape of eight suspected drug users from the improvised stockade of the Cebu Provincial Police Office headquarters early February.

The pre-charge investigation, which was conducted by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division-7, recommended charges for simple neglect of duty against Enguerra, SPO2 Armando Devilleres and PO2 Junar Rey Barangan of the PIB-7 and PO3s Danilo Lopez and Dindo Tajanlangit of the RID-7.

The eight men were arrested last February 4 by operatives of the CPPO and the RID-7 during a raid on a suspected drug den.  The raiding team then turned the suspects over to the San Fernando police for detention.

Lopez went to San Fernando to fetch the suspects for their court hearing in Cebu City.  At about 5 p.m. that day, Lopez and Tajanlangit arrived at the CPPO to detain the suspects, but Enguerra refused to accept them due to lack of an order.

Enguerra claimed he could also not accept them because the detention cell beside the PIB-7 office, a container van modified to house prisoners, had no padlock. At about 6:30 p.m., Lopez and Tajanlangit returned with the order and a padlock.  Duty officer Barangan then signed the order and accepted the suspects for detention.

Enguerra said that after the order was signed, the RID-7 personnel requested Barangan to allow them to take the eight detainees out for supper.  This was approved around 10 p.m.

But Lopez denied taking the detainees out for supper, and said that they only brought food to the cell of the latter.

The inmates said they were later able to escape by bending the bars on the door.  Once outside they slipped through the barbed wire.

Days after they escaped, seven of the eight detainees surrendered to the San Fernando police.  They were Joseph Reville, Anselmo Saz Jr., Johnrel Aguanta, Anecito Angtiampo, Jestoni Cantal, Irideo Carlo and a 17-year-old.

The alleged instigator of the jailbreak, Junie Cabosas, remains at large.

RIDMD-7 chief Sr. Supt. Arturo Evangelista, who was in charge of the investigation, said that both PIB-7 and RID-7 personnel committed lapses because there was no proper turnover and acceptance of the eight detainees.

As to who will be held responsible for the escape will be known in the summary hearing, Evangelista said.

Evangelista also recommended the construction of a new and secure detention facility inside the CPPO headquarters and detention cells in the municipal stations throughout the region should be inspected for weaknesses.

CPPO chief Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria welcomed the findings of the RIDMD-7 but said he cannot yet implement his policy to relieve police officials found responsible for escaped inmates.

“We cannot yet determine whose responsibility but as soon as we get the result of the investigation then we will relieve him (Enguerra). I want to be fair to everyone,” Valmoria said.

If the policemen are found guilty, they face a penalty of one-month suspension and forfeiture of a year’s benefits and claims.   — Garry B. Lao/BRP