Cops recapture escaped inmate

A self-confessed drug user who was arrested for robbery with rape last year but escaped a few months later was recaptured Wednesday afternoon in Argao town.

Rogelio Purto, 29, who was brought to the Cebu Provincial Police Office yesterday morning said he escaped because he was afraid after jail guard Mark Along cocked his gun and told him not to run away.

Purto was arrested last February 2004 after he was accused of raping a public school teacher and was brought to the Argao Municipal Trial Court last September 21 2004.

While they were in the comfort room after the hearing Along cocked his gun and told him not to run because he needed Purtos to find the way back to the Cebu Provincial Detention Rehabilitation Center as he did not know the way.

Purto said he then invited Along to lunch at their house in sitio Media, Poblacion, Argao, before they returned to the city since it was near the courthouse.

Purto said his parents served Along chicken and fish. During the meal, Purto excused himself to use the bathroom. He never returned.

He said he hid with a friend in a mountain barangay in Argao, but he missed his parents so he decided to visit them last Tuesday afternoon.

Argao police chief Conrado Manatad said that an asset informed them of Purto's presence. But it was only after 30 minutes of negotiation that Puerto's parents were convinced to surrender their son to the police.

Purto said he actually planned on yielding to the police because he was already tired of living on the run. He also said he was only accused of the crime because neighbors hate him for being a drug user. -Ryan P. Borinaga