Napolcom-7 to Mandaue Police: Probe 'inmates' escape" report

The National Police Commission regional office will ask the Mandaue City Police Office to investigate the alleged escape of three inmates from the detention cell of the Canduman Police station reportedly last December 27.

"If tinuod na kinahanlang gyud na imbestigahon," NAPOLCOM-7 assistant regional director Homer Cabaral said, adding that MCPO director Alexander Abadinas should sanction those liable if warranted.

A report over TV Patrol Central Visayas mentioned that the incident involving the escape of three inmates with pending complaints of theft was not recorded in the police station's blotter.

The three inmates were Judemar Saplot Patrimonio, 18, a native of Cagayan De Oro City; Bernard Pelayo, 19, of Bogo, Cebu; and a certain Carlo, a juvenile inmate who was allegedly designated informally as a "police trustee" or an errand boy.

The policemen who might face sanctions if the escape is verified true, are PO3s Renato Valle and Ronaldo Logrono, PO2 Tirso Plania, and PO1s Marvin Fegarido and Eunice Hult.

Cabaral said that, aside from administrative complaints, these police officers could be criminally sued for infidelity of custody of prisoner.

A reliable source said it was Carlo who handed over the cell key to the two other inmates while these policemen, on duty at the time, were allegedly sleeping.

A recent report said that the team of Valle recaptured the inmates at barangay Labangon in Cebu City last Friday.

When the ABS-CBN TV news crew however went to the station to take footage, the three inmates were not around.

Canduman station chief, Sr/Insp. Rogelio Cortel, had earlier denied the reported escape of the inmates, and he refused now to provide further details on the matter. -Ramil V. Ayuman/RAE