Detainee bolts Carmen prison; recaptured the next day

CEBU, Philippines - A detainee facing a rape charge bolted out of Carmen Police Station detention cell on Friday night but was recaptured the day after and was wounded when he tried to shoot it out with the police.

Dionesio Castro destroyed the iron bar of the detention cell and took advantage of the loud sound coming from the disco in the nearby gymnasium so the police officers won’t hear him.

Senior Police Office 2 Simplicio Gibo, desk officer, said that Castro slowly destroyed the iron bar on the ceiling of the detention cell past 10 p.m. on Friday.

Apart from the loud sound, the desk officer during the time of the escape, PO3 Jerome Quemque, was also busy entertaining a complainant who was reporting a theft incident.

Gibo said when Quemque had finished writing the blotter entry, he went to the back of the station where the detention cell was located to conduct headcount, but was surprised to learn that one prisoner was missing.

The two other prisoners, who did not try to escape, tipped Quemque and told him that Castro was in the ceiling making his way out of the police station.

Quemque saw Castro and called the latter but he hid not listen and, instead, climbed the wall and jumped out of the compound.

Quemque followed and jumped from the wall, but he tripped and injured his leg.

Quemque still tried to chase Castro but the police officer fell in a canal and injured again his leg, sustaining scars and cuts in his body. With the police officer injured, Castro took the opportunity to escape.

Gibo said the detainee has siblings in Danao City, Liloan and Consolacion so the police went to them, thinking that he might take refuge in one of his sibling’s house. Castro was found by a team in Barangay Cambanay Danao City, but before the police could capture him, he allegedly drew a caliber 22 Deringer revolver, which prompted a police officer to shoot him.

He was hit in his stomach and was immediately brought to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Danao City and is now in safe condition.  (FREEMAN)