MANILA, Philippines - Jail officials in Cavite are implementing tighter security measures for the detained live-in partner of Ricky Cadavero following his escape from prison over the weekend.
Cavite jail warden Inspector Deogracias Castillo said they doubled the guards for Fe Tolentino, also known as Ankay, after receiving reports from the Bureau of Correction (BuCor) that she could be next to be “rescued.”
“(Men from) BuCor came here to check on her and they told us that there are attempts to ‘rescue’ her too,” Castillo said.
He said Tolentino is now considered a high risk inmate.
Tolentino was arrested together with Cadavero and other gang members in Noveleta, Cavite in October.
She was transferred to the Cavite district jail the next month to face charges of illegal drug possession.
Cadavero, on the other hand, was turned over to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after being convicted by a Quezon City court in the Landbank robbery in 2008.
Tolentino was brought to the Cavite City Regional Trial Court Branch 16 for arraignment yesterday.
Castillo said the heavy security arrangements were made through coordination with the police and escorts who were required to bring long firearms.
“I told (Tolentino) to tell your husband that we will not give you up,” Castillo said.
Cadavero, who is wanted for 15 robbery cases, escaped from the NBP on Dec. 8 with the help of three armed men.
Three unidentified men who posed as visitors of Cadavero took the prison guards by surprise at gunpoint. A firefight ensued after several jail guards gave chase but no one was hurt.
Weeks before his escape, Cadavero expressed worries about Tolentino.
“He is worried about her because her case is non-bailable,” an NBP official revealed.
More than that, all the properties – land titles, cars, houses, even bank accounts – produced by the couple were all in Tolentino’s name.
These include three vehicles: a Honda CRV, a Mitsubishi Montero, and a Toyota Innova.
Police even suggested for the Anti-Money Laundering Council to conduct an investigation on Tolentino’s properties.
Castillo said since Cadavero broke free, the district jail started to limit Tolentino’s visitors.
They also became strict on Tolentino’s phone calls.
“Even her lawyer is no longer allowed to call her over the phone. If the lawyer wants to talk to her, he has to visit her in jail,” Castillo said.
They are also strictly observing her during the “calling,” a type of visitation preferred by most inmates.
The calling occurs when jail officials allow inmates to leave their cell and entertain their visitors in the visitation area.
This is how Cadavero escaped from the NBP.
Cadavero was at the state penitentiary’s Reception and Diagnostic Center when one of the armed men pretended to be his lawyer and asked that Cadavero be brought out.
“All inmates are entitled to this privilege. However, we told (Tolentino) to limit her visitors. Not the whole barangay,” Castillo said.
The Cavite district jail would also take photos of all her visitors, and require them to log in with their names, phone numbers, and addresses. Visitors are also required to state their relationship with Tolentino.
Jail inspectors will also conduct strip search on all visitors, even females, to make sure that no contraband – including firearms – will be smuggled in.