Cop charged after detainee bolts

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office has indicted a policeman over the escape of a prisoner under his watch in Barili town seven months ago.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the filing of the criminal case for evasion through negligence before the court against Police Officer 2 William Ricardo Beltran.

Petralba sustained the findings of probable cause by assistant provincial prosecutor Jay Paradiang against Beltran.

Beltran was charged by his police chief Sr. Insp. Isagani Abalo after the escape of Arnel Oga-ob from the Barili police station on February 19, 2009.

Although he was not the designated jailer, Beltran received the key of the detention cell from the outgoing team because he was the first to arrive in his team. Without waiting his teammates to arrive, Beltran opened the detention cell and allowed the three prisoners, including Oga-ob, to go out for the “regular sunning activity”.

However, Oga-ob took the opportunity to escape and succeeded leaving the two other inmates behind.

Paradiang ruled that he found probable cause to file the case in court because the responsibility of Beltran towards the inmates was established. 

According to Paradiang, this was shown in his accepting the custody of the prisoners from the outgoing team. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)