8 Manila prisoners bolt jail; 4 cops fired

Eight male inmates facing charges ranging from robbery to frustrated homicide escaped from their cell at the Chinatown police station early dawn Friday.

In view of the incident, Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. immediately relieved four officials of the Chinatown police station, including its commander, while administrative charges are being prepared against them.

Reassigned to the headquarter’s Civil Disturbance Management Group (CDMG) were Superintendent Juanito de Guzman, chief of the WPD-Station 11; Inspector Alfredo Opriasa, night-shift platoon commander; SPO4 Danilo Hermosura, night-shift duty investigator; and SPO4 Renato Romero, duty-desk officer.

Razon designated De Guzman’s deputy, Chief Inspector Edgardo Wycoco, as acting station commander.

The escapees were identified as Francisco Laurente, charged with frustrated homicide; Dan Logo, for theft; and Virgilio Ibarle, Marvin Bondoc, Bartolome Rosaroso, Jomel Rosaroso, Raul Samaro and Tomly Mejia, all facing robbery charges.

The jailbreak reportedly happened between 11:20 p.m. Thursday and 3:15 a.m. Friday when the incident was discovered.

There were reports the Chinatown police officials tried to keep the jailbreak from being exposed. It was known to the media only when Razon got wind of the incident. – Nestor Etolle, Mike Frialde