Buenafe orders probe on suspect's escape

CEBU, Philippines - Was there connivance with the police when a rape suspect escaped from the Mabolo Police Station the other day?

An official from the police station assured there was none, but an investigation is being conducted by three separate units under the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on the matter.

Aside from the investigation being conducted by the Mabolo Police on the officer who was on duty at the time of the escape, the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) and the Investigation and Detective Management Branch are also investigating PO1 Lloyd Magdadaro.

The separate probes were directed by CCPO Director Senior Superintendent Ramon Melvin Buenafe.

 Lysander Pardilla of Bolton St., Lahug Cebu City and internal security of the Philippine Association Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) was accused of raping a 22-year-old employee of King’s Business Center in Salinas drive, Lahug, Cebu City.

The victim had claimed she was serving bottles of beer to Pardilla when his two companions grabbed her arms and forced her to sit between them.

The woman also said the suspect hailed a taxi and pushed her inside, telling the driver to bring them to a motel in Cebu City. She said she was not able to shout because the suspect was tightly and painfully holding her jaw.

After the incident about 4:00 in the afternoon, the suspect got down along Archbishop Reyes and instructed the driver to drop the victim at Salinas drive, Lahug.

The victim went to the Barrio Luz barangay hall instead to report the incident.

Barangay tanods Joel Gelig, Ruel Lambayong, and Dante Palconet and the victim went to the convenience store and arrested the suspect.

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, CIB chief said, they have to check if there was connivance or if there was an exchange of favor when the suspect was able to disappear from the Mabolo Police Station.

“Pangayuan namo og statement ang police nganong nakaikyas ang suspect,” Santander said.

Inspector John Linbert Yango of the Mabolo Police said there is a directive from Chief Inspector Aurio Sanchez, Mabolo Police Chief, to look for the suspect.

Yango told The Freeman that PO1 Magdadaro, jailer and desk officer, was busy writing on the blotter when the suspect arrived escorted by the three barangay tanods of Barrio Luz.

The three then left after turning over the suspect.

Pardilla was sitting, smoking, near the station’s kitchen door. At the left portion of the kitchen is also a door, which the suspect might have used to escape. – (FREEMAN)