Manhunt on for jail guard, 3 escaped Chinese inmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) declared a manhunt yesterday for a jail guard and three Chinese drug suspects he allegedly helped escape from the Parañaque City Jail Saturday.

BJMP director Rosendo Dial formed Task Force Quatro, headed by Senior Superintendent Daniel Dequito, to supervise the investigation and manhunt for Jail Officer 1 Richard Sillatoc, who he declared armed and dangerous; and escaped inmates Long Zong, Chan Tong Lou and Cheung Wai Leung.

Dequito started coordinating with the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Immigration and Coast Guard and other concerned government agencies for the immediate recapture of the escapees.

As of yesterday, BJMP public information officer Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said Sillatoc remained in hiding.

Parañaque City police head investigator, Chief Investigator Enrique Sy said Sillatoc allegedly fed fellow guards JO1 Jesus Baguinon and JO2 Jimmy Zapata bulalo (beef bone marrow soup) and rice, which made them vomit. Sillatoc, Baguinon and Zapata were then on duty, manning the jail’s gates. While they were in the restroom, Sillatoc reportedly removed his uniform, changed into civilian clothes and helped the three detainees escape from jail from 3 a.m. to 3:20 a.m.

Dial said the escape was discovered when the jail officials conducted a headcount at 6 a.m.

Based on footage taken by the jail’s surveillance camera, Dial said Sillatoc helped the inmates make their way out through the main gate at 3:17 a.m.

Dial said the leftover food fed to the guards was sent to National Bureau of Investigation’s toxicology division for analysis.

Dial ordered the filing of appropriate criminal and administrative charges and the preventive suspension of Sillatoc. He added that all other personnel on duty at the time of the escape have been disarmed and removed from their post pending the results of the investigation.