City jail inmate escapes, falls

CEBU, Philippines - A 19-year-old robbery suspect was rearrested a few hours after he escaped from the Cebu City Jail early yesterday morning.

 Jail Warden Supt. Felixberto Jagorin, Jr. identified the suspect as Francisco Libradilla, a resident of Spolarium St., Barangay Duljo-Fatima and a native of Guiwanon, Barili town. He was committed for robbery last January 26 for stealing three laptops worth P120,000.

Jagorin said the suspect managed to escape from the jail around 4:30 am yesterday through the new building at the facility. The building was inaugurated just the other day to other inmates.

“Kaning main building namo diri, duna ni tulo ka-floors. Miagi siya sa ceiling sa third floor dayon miambak sa tunga na part which connects to the old building,” Jagorin said.

He said the suspect, who stands about 5’2” tall, might have climbed over the cyclone wires, slid down a lamp post, and escaped to the forest. The suspect also took advantage of the heavy rain at that time, considering that he had to pass by an area where the tower guard is located.

“Paspas lagi kaayo ang panghitabo. Mga matter of seconds ra jud. Paspas kay sad siya mudagan. Makaingon ta nga with his case, anad na siya aning matang sa pag-eskapo,” Jagorin said.

When tower guard Jail Officer 1 Bryan Adam Cadusali noticed the suspect running towards the forest, he chased him and opened fire, but missed.

After hearing the bell warnings and gunshots, Jagorin dispatched three teams for a hot pursuit operation.

“Naka-receive mi og report na gikan daw siya sa balay sa iyang uyab. Pag-abot didto, milakaw na daw siya, then gi-trace padung SRP near Manalili St. where we found him hiding in a motor banca,” the Jail Warden said. The suspect was re-arrested at 9:45 am.

Jagorin said they submitted the victim to a medical examination to avoid suspicions that he was mauled. Afterwards, they placed him in an isolation sell for security reasons.

“Mangasuko man ning ubang inmates diri kay tungod sa iyang gibuhat ma-padlock na sad sila so basin kulatahon pa hinuon siya, so amo na lang siya gi-isolate,” Jagorin explained.

The Jail Warden said they are placing Cadusali under investigation to check if there was negligence on his part, although the heavy rain could be a mitigating circumstance that prevented him from seeing the suspect immediately.

“Every hour mi diri gapa-bagting to check if the jail guards are on alert. Inig bagting sa tower 1, mubagting ang tower 2, then tower 3, and so on,” Jagorin said.

He added that they will also identify the person who helped them arrest the suspect so they can hand over the P10,000 reward. — (FREEMAN)