Inmate hurt in escape try

CEBU, Philippines - An inmate was injured after jumping from the rooftop of a four-story building inside the Cebu City Jail last Friday afternoon in an apparent escape attempt.

Joey Ceniza, 20, of Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City, sustained injuries to the head and other parts of his body after he jumped from the rooftop of the Drug Offenders Building and landed in the asphalt outside the jail.

Cebu City Jail Warden Johnson Calub told The FREEMAN shortly before their daily 6 p.m. headcount, Ceniza was seen by a jail officer in Tower 1 on the rooftop of the said building on the verge of jumping off.

He said they tried to stop him but he had already fallen.

 “Murag mi-suway pa siya sa pagkapot sa mga net nga among g-butang against throwing of contrabands inside the jail pero midiretso gyud siya sa aspalto,” he said.

The inmate landed outside the penitentiary’s perimeter fence near Tower 2. 

The warden said jail officers rushed to aid the inmate who was lying on his back at the side of the road.

Minutes later, the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation arrived and rushed the victim to the Cebu City Medical Center where he is currently confined under guard.

“Nangagupok gyud ang iyang ngipon tungod sa iyang pag-ambak. Maayo na lang gali kay wala kaayo siya magrabihan,” the warden said.

 Investigators initially believe that the Ceniza was trying to kill himself after having an argument with his live-in partner who visited him last June 3, but they said he was really trying to escape considering the place where he jumped.

Ceniza has been in jail since June 27, 2011 awaiting trial for a drug case.

Meanwhile, inmate Jerry Alcano, of Barangay Canbanwa, Argao Town, was recaptured after escaping from the Bogo City Police Station last Friday.

PO2 Von Tecson of Argao Police Station said they received a tip from a concerned citizen that the escapee arrived in town.

Aside from the tip, Amit’s own father reportedly sought help from a neighbor policeman for the recapture of his own son who is facing a qualified theft case in Bogo City.

The team from the Argao Police Station headed by SPO1 Arnold Abiner together with elements from Bogo City Police Station recaptured Amit yesterday morning in Barangay Canbanwa. Amit was immediately brought back to the Bogo City Police Station.

Bogo City Police Station chief Ceferino Tabay Jr. could not provide details on the escape as of yesterday afternoon. — with Brenda Batuto of BANAT News/BRP (FREEMAN)