Inmate uses "call of nature" to escape from guards

CEBU, Philippines - A detainee who was supposed to attend the burial of his grandmother escaped from his three jail officer escorts in Barangay Cogon, Tuburan town, last Sunday afternoon.

Johnny Ylanan, 30, from Barangay Sumon, Tuburan, was still handcuffed when he gave his guards the slip. He was still at large as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

PG1 Bobby Manansala, acting jail warden of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, said Ylanan was allowed to attend the burial of his grandmother Narcisa Libongcogon as stated in the court order signed by Judge Ruben Altubar of Toledo City Regional Trial Court Branch 29.

Ylanan was escorted by JO1s Joyte Noval, Glen Veloso and Raul Sevillano.

But it turned out Libongcogon had already been buried last Saturday and they prepared to return to CPDRC.

Ylanan asked to use the comfort room in his grandmother’s house and was allowed to. The escorts waited for him to return, they did not know Ylanan already escaped from the house through another exit in the bathroom.

“Kumpiyansa ra pud tingali unya distansiya ra nga gabantay maong na-eskapuhan kay dili maingon ana kung gitarong og tan-aw,” Manansala said.

Ylanan has been in jail since December last year for two counts of possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

In a separate interview, Altubar said Ylanan’s lawyer Roquesa Alcomendras filed a motion for reconsideration last June 7 stating that Ylanan will attend a burial on June 10.

He then issued a court order that same day but he was not aware that the burial had taken place the day before.

“I was relying to the motion filed by his lawyer and the copy was received by the CPDRC on June 8,” Altubar said.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador already sent personnel to help track Ylanan.

Jose Ma. Gastardo, consultant on jail matters, said that the Committee on Discipline and Investigation will investigate the jail guards. The investigation will include the jail warden to clarify some things.

He said the jail guards are answerable for letting the inmate visit his grandmother’s house before returning here even though the court order only allowed him to attend the burial.  (FREEMAN)