Inmates to shed light on Makati jailbreak

Some Makati City jail inmates will be the key witnesses in authorities’ investigation into the controversial escape of suspected drug trafficker Ding Chai Hui, alias Tony Lao.

A source privy to the investigation told The STAR that the inmates saw Ding get out of his cell and walk out of the "well-secured" city jail in the early hours of Dec. 13.

The source added that investigators are convinced that Ding’s escape was orchestrated by people "from the outside" who connived with the jailguards.

"There’s somebody big behind Ding’s escape. And Tony Lao is capable of giving a lot to the jailguards because he is a member of a big-time drug syndicate," the source said.

The source said investigators are trying to determine the identities of the people who had waited for Ding outside the city jail and drove him off.

For his part, Superintendent Edgar Bolcio, newly designated Makati City jail warden, said he has placed the city jail on red alert status.

Bolcio also cancelled all prison employees’ leaves until Ding is re-arrested.

Instead of the usual three hour shifts of jailguards, Bolcio said there are now two shifts "to maximize" the personnel.

Gambling and drinking among jail employees are also strictly prohibited, he said.

Bolcio replaced Chief Inspector Pepe Quinones, who was sacked over the Ding escape.

Ironically, Bolcio was the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) hearing officer when Quinones was investigated for the escape of five inmates from Parañaque City jail only last July.

Quinones was only reprimanded for simple neglect over the incident, Bolcio said.

Three jailguards were suspended for leaving their posts, allowing the inmates to escape.

Bolcio said he was inclined to believe that Quinones simply had a stroke of bad luck with the two incidents that happened under the latter’s watch.

Nevertheless, Bolcio said Quinones will be among those charged administratively for grave misconduct next week, either at the BJMP-National Capital Region legal office or the Office of the Ombudsman.

"If the evidence warrants it, they could be dismissed from service even if it was only their first offense," Bolcio said.

Quinones and eight jailguards are currently detained at the city jail, Bolcio said.

A criminal case has been filed against them before the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

But Bolcio said Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code, or infidelity in the custody of prisoners, is also a bailable offense.

"In fact, the maximum penalty for this offense is only six years in prison and it is probationable," Bolcio said.

Bolcio said it would be best if Congress would amend the law and impose stiffer penalties to erring jail personnel as a deterrent to negligence or bribery.

Manhunt On

Chief drugbuster Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay ordered yesterday a close monitoring of airports and seaports to prevent Ding from leaving the country.

Aglipay ordered a massive manhunt against the Chinese national as he expressed belief he was being coddled by fellow members of the 14-K drug syndicate, who are still in the country.

"We strongly believed that he is still in hiding in the country," said Aglipay, adding that they are also closely watching other members of the syndicate.

Aglipay heads the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF).

He has tasked Superintendent Nelson Yabut of the AID-SOTF special operations group (SOG) to led the hunt against Ding.

Yabut coordinated yesterday with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BuCus) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), for an inter-agency effort to get the escaped inmate.

According to Yabut, he also distributed yesterday an alert order of Ding, which listed his profile and personal data, to airport and seaport officials and the AID-SOTF regional offices nationwide. "We are appealing to the citizenry to report the presence of Ding to the nearest police office once he is sighted," said Yabut, adding that the numbers to call are 7227976 or 7230401, local 5671.

Yabut was one of the officers of the defunct Narcotics Group (Narcgroup) that arrested Ding during an operation along Leviste street, Makati City last March 25, 2002. The suspect yielded more than five kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P10 million.

Ding was charged with drug pushing and illegal possession of illegal drugs before the Makati City regional trial court (RTC).

However, Ding escaped from his cell last Saturday without any night duty officer noticing him. It was noted that Ding had to pass through six steel doors before getting out of the detention facility.

The BJMP is conducting its own probe into Ding’s escape. – With Non Alquitran, Edu Punay