Manhunt ordered for Caloocan jail escapees

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango formed three teams yesterday to conduct the manhunt for the remaining five escapees from the jial of a Caloocan police sub-station.

Tango directed NPD-District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) chief and Task Force Bagong Barrio commander Superintendent Rafael Santiago to expand their operation up to the provinces.

"We are now talking to the relatives of the escaped prisoners to help us convince them to surrender peacefully so as not to aggravate their respective cases," Santiago told The STAR.

Santiago said that three teams composed of NPD agents and the Caloocan City police operatives were formed to recapture Arturo Delima, 25, Jason Jabaan, 18, Ronald Robles, 28, Gilbert Mariano, 25, and a 16-year-old boy, all facing robbery charges.

Seven prisoners escaped from the police Sub-station 1 detention cell in Bagong Barrio last Tuesday morning after the detainees sawed off the steel handle of door of their detention cell.

Two of the escapees, Roderick Acantilado, 23, a resident of 256 Gen. Tirona st. in Bagong Barrio, charged with robbery and a 17-year-boy facing theft charges, were immediately recaptured.

Meanwhile, Tango warned the four NPD police chiefs, Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside of Caloocan City, Senior Superintendent Ramon de Jesus of Malabon City, Superintendent Genesis Tolejano of Navotas, and Superintendent Billy Beltran of Valenzuela City, that they would be meted "appropriate sanctions" once a jailbreak happens in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Tango also directed the four police chiefs to implement strict security measures within their detention cells to avoid a similar incident like the Caloocan jailbreak.

Chief Inspector Bienvinido Santianes Jr., Caloocan police Sub-station 1 commander, was relieved from his post after the incident. He was replaced by Chief Inspector Rio Gatacilo.

The Sub-station 1 duty officer, SPO1 Ermin Hipolito, failed to report to his duty yesterday and is now facing administrative charges.

SPO3 Ernesto Mangahas, another duty officer during the jail break, is also being investigated.

"All those involved would be investigated and penalized once found guilty of the charges," Santiago said.