2 recaptured immediately: 7 bolt Caloocan jail

Seven inmates, two of whom were minors, bolted a Caloocan police detention cell yesterday morning.

Two of the escapees were recaptured the same day by joint elements of the local police and the Northern Police District (NPD).

NPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango identified the recaptured detainees as Roderick Acantilado, 23, charged with robbery, and a 17-year-old boy facing theft charges.

The five others who are still at large were identified as Arturo Delima, 25; Jason Jabaan, 18; Ronald Robles, 28; Gilbert Mariano, 25; and a 16-year-old boy, all facing robbery charges.

PO2 Albert Eustaquio, officer on case, said follow-up operations conducted by operatives from the Station Investigation and Detective Management Bureau (SIDMB) nabbed Acantilado in a house in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City.

Meanwhile, the mother of the 17-year-old escapee voluntarily surrendered his son to the police station. She told police probers her son was only coerced into joining the jailbreak.

Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside, city police chief, sacked Chief Inspector Bienvenido Santianes, commander of Substation 1, where the suspects were detained, from his post.

Meanwhile, the jailer on duty, SPO1 Ermin Hipolito, has not reported back for duty after abandoning his post shortly before the jailbreak.

Aside from Hipolito, SPO3 Ernesto Mangahas, shift duty desk officer, will also be investigated.

Initial investigation showed that the jailbreak happened between 2 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. yesterday. The inmates reportedly sawed off the handle of the steel door of the holding cell and escaped under the noses of the officers on duty.

Tango immediately formed Task Force Bagong Barrio, led by NPD-DIID Chief Superintendent Rafael Santiago, to hunt down the suspects.