For inmate’s escape CPPO chief wants stiffer penalties for Cordova cops

Cebu Provincial Police Director Carmelo Valmoria said he is not satisfied with the recommendation of the Cordova police station to have its policemen undergo supervisory training following the escape of an inmate last Dec. 27.

“Dili mahimo nga supervisory training ra.  Dili mahimo nga kay nadakpan pagbalik ang piniriso, okay na,” Valmoria said, as he added he wants sanctions and penalties imposed if the men are found to have committed lapses in their duty.

What irked most Valmoria were accusations that the Cordova police station covered up and even denied to the media and their superiors that drug suspect Joseph Rosania, 21, had escaped.

The initial report submitted to the CPPO stated that around 3:30 p.m. last December 27, PO2 Arnel Resente and PO1 Arthur dela Fuente Santillan were taking Rosani to file the information sheets for the suspect’s alleged crime with the Lapu-Lapu City RTC. 

The case was already filed at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.  However, the arresting officers were not able to file the information sheets immediately at the RTC Clerk of Court because of the holidays.

Rosani asked permission to relieve himself, but when he noticed that the policemen were not watching he fled towards the shanties at the back of the station and disappeared.

Cordova police concluded in their report that the suspect did not behave normally and believed the policemen took him out to kill him.

In the report prepared by SPO1 Henry Bentulan-Amores and endorsed by Cordova police chief Sr. Insp. Bonifacio Tecson, the two policemen did not expect the suspect to run and flee even with handcuffs.

The escape was made public only by tricycle drivers in the area who saw him hanging around a basketball court.  A police tracking team found him around three hours later in a house in sitio Datag, barangay Buagsong, Cordova.

SPO2 Honorato Inihao, who was sent by CPPO to check on the matter said he was not respected by the Cordova police when he asked for further details on the incident.

Inihao even asked for a list of suspects being held in the holding cell but he could not be given any.  Inihao also decided to interrogate Rosani himself.

The station also recommended Rosani be made to undergo a neuro-psychiatric examination and drug rehabilitation.  — Garry B. Lao/BRP