Drug suspect escapes; top WPD exec sacked

The chief of the anti-drug unit of the Western Police District was ordered relieved from his post following the "mysterious" escape of an arrested suspect from the unit’s detention cell inside the WPD headquarters building yesterday morning.

Ordered relieved pending completion of the investigation was Superintendent Jose Espino, chief of the WPD-District Drug Enforcement Group (DDEG). Espino’s relief was ordered by WPD director, Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, who was reportedly infuriated by the incident.

Also relieved and charged in the wake of the escape was Police Officer 2 Rejene Cayabyab, the lone duty guard inside the DDEG office at the time suspect Cesar dela Cruz escaped at about 5:45 a.m. yesterday.

According to an investigation conducted by the WPD-General Assignments Section, Cayabyab and Dela Cruz were the only persons inside the DDEG office at the time of the escape. However, Cayabyab could not explain how Dela Cruz managed to get out of the office and walk out of the headquarters building without his knowledge.

"We are still investigating whether Dela Cruz actually escaped or was set free by Cayabyab," said case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Mario Salonga.

According to Salonga, Dela Cruz, 32, was nabbed on June 24 by WPD-DDEG elements at his house in 1252 Santol Street in Sta. Mesa. Seized from him were two small plastic sachets allegedly containing shabu. – Mike Frialde