From the courtroom: Suspect flees, jumps off building’s 2nd floor

CEBU, Philippines - A suspect charged with violation of Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law tried to escape by jumping from the second floor of the Hall of Justice building last Friday.

Regional Trial Court-branch 30 presiding Judge Rafael Crescencio Tan Jr identified the suspect as Eliseo Barillo whom, he ordered arrested and handcuffed to appear in his sala for a hearing.

Barillo was out on bail, but failed to appear during the pretrial last November 9, prompting Tan to cancel the bailbond. The suspect filed a motion for reconsideration but had to be arrested first and then wait for the comment of the prosecutor.

But after he was arrested, handcuffed and brought outside the courtroom, Barillo managed to run away and jumped from the building.

Everybody thought he died, but he was seen running towards the gates eluding three guards there who tried to stop him. Then he entered into a private property where he was eventually subdued after the guards fired warning shots.

Tan explained that Barillo knew his bail was cancelled because he even asked for a motion for reconsideration.

Due to the incident, the judge had called for stricter security measures at the Hall of Justice, saying it was not the first to happen there. Two to three weeks ago, another suspect also tried to escape while in the custody of the jail guards but was recaptured. —Juancho R. Gallarde (FREEMAN)