Inmate bolts court hearing; Baybay City Jail head relieved from her post

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The warden of the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail, Inspector Lourdes Noveda, was immediately ousted from her post after one of the inmates about to attend a court hearing Tuesday morning was able to escape off his jail guards as he was about to enter the Hall of Justice in Baybay City.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Region 8 Director, Senior Superintendent Edwin Riel, said that Noveda, under the doctrine of command responsibility, should be relieved from her post.

The three jail guards — Jail Officers 1 Eustaquio Polo, Mylord Sumosod and Haniel Atrataca — who escorted the inmates to court were also sacked from their posts, while BJMP National Director Chief Superintendent Serafin Barreto Jr. had already ordered an investigation on the incident.

The escaped inmate, 34-year-old Job Purazo, who is facing a drug case at the Regional Trial Court in Baybay City, was shown on the CCTV footage to have ran away while his escort was busy texting on his mobile phone.

Purazo was able to free himself from his handcuff and ran toward a waiting motorcycle, and fled from the jail escorts who tried to run after him. He is now still at large and authorities are now pursuing for his recapture.

Riel said that, in incidents like this, BJMP personnel who are escorting an inmate to court, as well as the warden will face administrative case proceedings after undergoing investigation.

"If they are found guilty of lapses in discharging their duties and functions, charges will automatically be filed and, if there are strong evidences to it, they will be dismissed from service,” Riel said.

Riel also reiterated his warning and orders to the BJMP8 personnel, who are currently supervising more than 400 jails, to take extra measures and operating procedures to avoid a similar failure in securing inmates to court hearings.

"They have to realize that texting or using their cell phones while on escorting duties are not allowed and this is a big violation," Riel added.

Noveda, for her part, insisted that her personnel have been warned always to be security-conscious and be on alert while on duties and escorting prisoners outside the jail perimeter.

"But I have to undergo any administrative procedures in so far as the ongoing investigation is concerned," she told The Freeman. (FREEMAN)