2 prisoners escape, 1 captured

CEBU, Philippines - Two prisoners, while working inside the compound of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Lapu-Lapu City, escaped last Sunday but in less than 24 hours one was captured.

Jail Superintendent Isabelo Cartin Jr., the city jail warden, identified the two escapees as Alfie Lopez, 28, and Rolando Amistad, 27.

He said they jumped from the roof of a building they were painting inside the compound of the BJMP.

The absence of the men was discovered at around 10 in the evening when the jail guards conducted a headcount.

But before long Lopez was taken into custody with the help of the Cordova Police Station.

Lopez, a resident of barangay Mahayahay, Cordova town, was detained for theft while Amistad, a resident o barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, was arrested for violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Cartin said Lopez and Amistad belonged to a group of 20 skilled inmates paid to construct a building the construction of which was financed by a Japanese Firm. 

This project gives the detainees the opportunity to work with pay. They were picked for the job because the offenses they had committed were considered petty crimes, such as the possession of firearms.

Investigation showed that while painting the roof, Lopez and Amistad climbed a 10-foot wall and jumped over to the other side.

Cartin said Lopez escaped because he missed his family.

The police are still looking for Amistad.

Jail Officer 1 Darwin Denila and Jail Officer 2 Merlito Zamora, officer-in-charge on that day, will be investigated.

ACCORDING TO CARTIN, THEY WILL FACE SANCTIONS IF PROVEN TO BE NEGLIGENT IN THEIR DUTIES. – GARRY B. LAO WITH RAZEL V. CUIZON AND CLEA LHYLE P. OMPAD