Four cops found initially liable in foiled arson, escape try at CCPO

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office’s Public Safety Company chief, Supt. Carmelo Dayon, has initially identified four policemen who could be held accountable in the foiled arson at the CCPO stockade and a detainee’s attempt to escape last Sunday.

Dayon said the smuggling of a lighter and a 15-inch iron saw into the detention cell could have happened between 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. of Saturday. Dayon identified the policemen assigned as jailers during this period as SPO2 Isagani Ceniza, SPO1 George Samondio, PO3 Miguelito Cañete, and PO2 Romeo Tamosa.

Dayon, however, said that the two other policemen, SPO2 Celestino Alvarez and SPO1 Patricio Torrefil, who were on duty between 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday could still be held liable but for a lesser offense, which shall be determined during a formal investigation to be conducted by the Investigation and Detective Management Branch headed by Chief Insp. Bonifacio Garciano.

According to Dayon, the IDMB is already conducting a formal investigation into the incident last Sunday wherein suspected robber Clemente Jover Escobar attempted to escape by cutting off the iron grills at the ceiling of the detention cell and trying to burn the facility to hide his supposed escape.

 Although a formal investigation is being conducted, the six policemen are allowed to continue to report in their respective assignments.  (FREEMAN)