Drug suspect flees after court hearing

CEBU, Philippines - A drug suspect who previously failed to elude arrest from operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch successfully escaped from his provincial guard escorts yesterday afternoon.

Of the 21 detainees from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center who were taken to the Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Argao, only 20 returned to the jail after Jojo Gañolon, 24, of Barangay Nalhug, Dalaguete escaped.

Operatives of the PIB, Argao policemen and the five provincial guard escorts conducted a manhunt operation in Barangay Canbantug where the black XRM motorcycle with no plate number, believed to have been used by Gañolon, was abandoned.

Canbantug is a mountain barangay separating Argao and Dalaguete towns.

Chief Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Argao Police Station, told The FREEMAN that all 21 detainees attended the hearing presided by Judge Maximo Perez yesterday morning.

Provincial guards Roel Gil, Roberto Creer, George Veloso, Henrito Catigtig and female guard Candida Obaña were manning all 21 detainees but it was Gil who was tasked to watch over Gañolon.

Batobalonos said that right after the hearing at about 12:30 in the afternoon, Creer told him that all of them had lunch at a kitchenette beside the court and Gañolon’s hands were freed so he could eat.

But before Gañolon finished his meal, Creer said he suddenly ran towards a waiting motorcycle and sped off followed by two motorcycle-riding-men believed to be back-ups.

Batobalonos then radioed his policemen while members of the Barangay Intelligence Network in Canbantug made a roadblock in the area however they failed to arrest the suspect after one of his companions fired a warning shot.

A reliable source said they were about 200 meters away from where the suspects were having lunch.

They were not aware of the incident until they heard the siren of the patrol car which alerted them.

He added that Gañolon’s siblings who also appeared during the previous hearing on November 14 seemed to be acting unusual.

“Molikay na iyang igsuon namo mura’g lain na gyud,” he told The FREEMAN over the phone.

Gañolon and his older brother Joseph, 27 were involved in a shootout on August 13 during a buy-bust operation conducted jointly by the PIB and the Dalaguete Police Station in Barangay Balud, Dalaguete where Joseph died after he succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Jojo, who was the subject of the operation, was hurt in his right thigh and was arrested together with their cohorts Brian Carali, 23 and Loriano Heredia, 23.

Confiscated from the suspects were three large, two medium, and 36 small packets of shabu estimated at P120,000. Also confiscated were several drug paraphernalia, three .357 revolvers, a .45 pistol, several ammunitions of the said guns and a hand grenade.

Col. Cesar Veloso, security consultant of the CPDRC, said that they are still investigating the matter but if Gil will be found liable for the detainee’s escape he will be charged with infidelity in the custody of an inmate.  (FREEMAN)