"Threat assessment" for inmates who ask for police escorts

CEBU, Philippines - The top official of the Police Regional Office-7 said they cannot easily provide police escorts to newly released prisoners unless the latter undergo “threat assessment” first.

PRO-7 director Lani-O Nerez said this following the recent killing of robbery suspect Jeromy Polistico, who was peppered with bullets by unknown gunmen right outside the gate of the Cebu City Jail after posting bail.

He said that even if a newly released inmate requested for police to escort him from the jail facility to his residence, the latter should undergo threat assessment first.

During threat assessment, the police check the inmate’s situation if his or her security is being threatened or not, before they decide whether to provide him or her with police escorts.

In last Friday’s incident, Polistico, who was one of the alleged suspects of the foiled P7.2 million jewelry heist, was with his lawyer, former fiscal Jesus Feliciano, and had just got out of the city jail when shot by two unidentified men outside the main gate of the city jail.

There were issues raised that the killing of Polistico, 34, of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, might have been the handiwork of the vigilantes, which Nerez said is still “premature” to say.

“Basin sa grupo nila mismo naa’y disagreement sa ilang operations… Naghuwat lang na mag-kasumpaki,” Nerez said.

Earlier, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said that Polistico might have been shot by his company in the robbery group. Comendador also believed that he was killed by one of his victims before.

However, the two police officials said the investigation is still going on and the Homicide Section personnel are still looking at different angles on Polistico’s murder.

Comendador also said that they also lack the manpower that is why they could not just readily provide police escorts to those who request for it unless due process is observed.

The investigators, according to him, already invited a witness to shed light on the incident.

“If naa’y witness, dako ang possibility na ma-solve ni nga kaso. Dili nato ni (kaso) biyaan,” Comendador said.

He said they will also invite Feliciano, who was with the victim during the shooting to give some accounts on the incident.

Until now, Comendador said the family of Polistico has not yet coordinated with the Homicide Section, which is tasked to investigate the case. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)