Rape suspect says guard freed him out of pity

CEBU, Philippines - The rape suspect who was rearrested on Saturday in Cebu City said a policeman from Sibonga Police Station freed him from detention in December out of pity.

Policemen from the Sibonga Police yesterday escorted the suspect, Junrey Yamaro from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office back to Sibonga where he was detained for rape charge.

IDMB team led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan arrested the suspect in Sitio Mohon 1, barangay Tisa, Cebu on Saturday afternoon after they were informed of the suspect’s presence in the area.

Yamaro is facing rape charge before the sala of Regional Trial Court branch 26 Judge Maximo Perez in Sibonga for allegedly raping his wife’s niece.

He reportedly “escaped” from Sibonga police detention cell on December 20, 2009.

But in an interview with reporters yesterday, Yamaro said he was freed by the duty jail guard, PO2 Noel Rodriguez, over pity that he may not be able to spend Christmas with his family most especially that his wife was to deliver their second child that time.

Rodriguez, however, told another story.

The police officer claimed he took pity on the suspect after seeing him lying on the floor with his mouth almost covered with bubbles as if he had epilepsy. Because of this, he took him out of the detention cell and escorted him to the hospital and had him treated.

But at the third time he let the suspect went outside the detention cell, the latter allegedly ran away while he was locking the cell, contrary to what the suspect claimed that he was released by the policeman.

Yamaro’s escape caused Rodriguez’s dismissal from service in July, though his lawyer has already filed a motion for reconsideration. The police officer is currently detailed at the Aloguinsan Police Station and is in a floating status, receiving no salary and benefits for four months already.

Rodriguez yesterday said he is happy with the suspect’s recapture. (FREEMAN)