13 inmates bolt Caloocan police jail

MANILA, Philippines - At least 13 of the 23 prisoners of the Caloocan City police north extension office escaped jail during heavy downpour past midnight yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Northern Police District director, said four of the escapees are facing robbery-snatching case, four others theft, three, for illegal possession of firearms, one for frustrated murder and another one for illegal gambling charges.

They were identified as Aldrin Buesa, Pedro Ramos, Rolando Hernandez, Crisanto Cobardo, Rodel Abad, Rolando Lozada, Noli Paredes, Judemar Judan, Jonathan Brit, Ryan Francillo, Ralph Magtangol, Felix Valenzuela and Marvin Santos.

The incident resulted in the immediate administrative relief of Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen, Caloocan City police NEO chief and Senior Inspector Roland Perilla, station investigation and detective management branch chief as per order of Metro police director Chief Superintedent Roberto Rosales.

According to Rosales, at least six tracker teams were dispatched to go after the escapees.

Moreover, Mayor Enrico Echiverri directed Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, the city police chief to hunt down the suspects and conduct deeper investigation into the case to find out “who should be held accountable for the jailbreak.”

Echiverri also ordered Santos to personally inspect all detention cells under his command “to implement stringent security measures and conduct repairs to the facilities if necessary.”

The 13 prisoners escaped at around 12:30 a.m. through the roof by destroying their cell’s steel bar ceiling and its iron sheet roofing. PO3 Roland Isaac, the assigned duty officer of the detention cell, failed to detect the jailbreak that took place during heavy rains.

Isaac was relieved from his post.

“I have already formed four teams to track down and arrest the escapees, who are just residents of Caloocan City,” Santos said. Pagdilao also directed Santos to investigate and find out lapses or negligence on the part of NEO officers and file sanctions to those found culpable for the incident.         – With Non Alquitran