Hunt for escapee continues

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities are still hunting for Jojo Gañolon, the inmate who escaped after his hearing in Argao last Monday. Amid the ongoing manhunt, a policeman assigned in southwestern Cebu will possibly be re-assigned to the provincial headquarters or to another police station for being an informant on Gañolon’s arrest.

The FREEMAN preferred not to disclose the name of the policeman for security purposes.

A reliable source said the cop served as the informant of the Provincial Intelligence Branch about the illegal drug trade of Jojo and his older brother Joseph. He was also with the team during the raid in Barangay Balud, Dalaguete on August 13, where Joseph died.

In an interview with the policeman, he admitted that he was once shot by unidentified men while traveling on the National Highway of Dalaguete town. He was onboard his motorcycle and heading home at that time.

He said that he was in a dark portion of the road when he was shot but the gunman missed. A few minutes later, he heard a motorcycle speed off to an unknown direction.

“Wa ko kahibaw ug ambush ba to pero wa nako nibaws ug tira, wa ko kahibaw ug ako ba kaha gyud ang tumong ato, dili pud ko sigurado,” he said in a phone interview and added that there could be two to three persons involved in that incident.

So far there was no order yet from Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, but the cop said he will follow such order because he knows it is for his safety.

“We are doing our job well and that is only a threat but if ilang tinud-on we are ready to defend ourselves,” he said.

Inspector Dexter Basirgo, chief of the Dalaguete Police Station, said they are still tracing the whereabouts of Gañolon’s live-in partner, Mabeth, as well as Francisco Amacanin, who allegedly drove the getaway motorcycle.

Basirgo said they are expecting Gañolon to show himself to Mabeth after reports that the latter was pregnant with his friend’s child.

As of yesterday, police are still looking for Mabeth.

“Negative pa gyud among lakaw kay hasta ang live-in nagtago-tago man pud,” Basirgo said.

The latest information received by the Dalaguete police was that Gañolon was suffering from pain because of the gunshot wound on his right thigh when he was hit during the shootout with the PIB upon his arrest.

Only 20 of the 21 detainees returned to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center on Monday after Gañolon escaped while the inmates were taken to the Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Argao for a hearing.

After the hearing about 12:30 in the afternoon, all inmates and the five provincial guards had lunch at a kitchenette beside the court but while eating, Gañolon suddenly ran towards the waiting Honda XRM motorcycle and sped off followed by two motorcycle-riding-men believed to be his back-up.

Roel Gil, who was assigned to watch over Gañolon, failed to arrest him.

Amacanin, who was identified as the driver of the motorcycle, went in the direction of Barangay Canbantug where they abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot.

Canbantug is a mountain barangay that serves as the boundary between the towns of Argao and Dalaguete.

Col. Cesar Veloso, security consultant of the CPDRC, already issued a shoot-to-kill order against Gañolon and ordered for Gil’s dismissal from service.

He added that they are still giving Gil until Saturday to arrest Gañolon but even if he will be arrested it will not stop the decision to dismiss him from service. — (FREEMAN)