Minor flees after court hearing

CEBU, Philippines - A 16-year-old under the custody of the Cebu City Operation Second Chance, who was about to be paroled this month, escaped after attending his court hearing yesterday at the Mandaue City Hall of Justice.

The boy reportedly escaped at around 10:45 a.m. after his hearing at Regional Trial Court Branch 55 of Judge Marilyn Yap for theft, said Insp. Merlina Metante, OSC warden.

Aside from the boy, two others were with him during the hearing. One tried to escape with him but was later caught.

The boy entered the facility last September 2, 2011 and was set to be released this Jan. 18 after his case was going well, according to Metante.   

The boy escaped by fleeing from their escorts, JO1 Joel Bantoya and two social workers from Mandaue City, as they were being taken to their service vehicle. The jail officer tried to chase the boy to no avail.

When Metante heard that the boy escaped, she immediately coordinated with the local officials of Barangay Pulpogan, Concolacion town, where the boy reportedly lived prior to his arrest.

“Sayang kaayo nga mitakas siya kay he was already set for diversion program or release,” she said.

However, she also admitted that there were lapses in the transfer of their three residents.

She said the standard ratio for transferring residents from OSC to the court should be one jail guard to one resident, plus one more guard for any number of attendees. But clearly, this was not followed during the boy’s escape.

Instead, only Bantoya and two social workers were with the three residents. She said the protocol was not followed after they thought that there was no court hearing for the day.

“Wala mi nag-expect nga naay court hearing, mao nga nag-operation greyhound (jail contraband search) mi but mi-abot man ang sakyanan sa court,” she said.

Because the jail guards were busy with the contraband search, which was followed by a general cleaning of the entire facility, they had no other guards to spare.

“Kulang gyud ang guards,” she said.

However, she said that they did not expect that the boy would try to escape after they were informed during the hearing that they will soon be released.

“Gilaay na siguro siya kay wala man kud to siya mga bisita mao nga mitakas siya,” Metante said.

If the boy is recaptured, his stay at the facility will be extended.   - THE FREEMAN