Inmate escapes from escorts

CEBU, Philippines - A 19-year-old inmate of the Mandaue City Jail escaped from his escorts after attending a hearing yesterday morning at the Hall of Justice at the Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

Ricky Andujar of barangay Binaliw, Cebu City faces a string of cases at the Hall of Justice in Mandaue City for robbery, Basak police station chief P Sr./Insp Wilson Abot said.

He was committed to the jail last March after cases for robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and possession of illegal drugs were filed against him.

Community relations officer JOI Blanche Alino, in an interview, said the escorts had brought some inmates to Mandaue City Hall of Justice on board a BJMP mobile for hearings at the different branches of the court yesterday morning.

Andujar was taken to the MTCC Branch 1 in the sala of Judge Rogelio Lucmayon at around 8:30 a.m.

He was chained with two other inmates who were also to attend hearings that day.

After the hearings, their two escorts made them stand by the gate near the entrance of the building at around 10:00 a.m. while waiting for the other inmates who were attending separate hearings.

The two escorts who were three meters away from Andujar and the other two inmates were talking to each other when one of the inmates called out to them to say that Andujar had escaped.

The escorts immediately chased Andujar but lost him in M.C Briones Highway.

While the two jail guard escorts were chasing Andujar, another jail guard guarded the two other inmates.

Andujar’s hand slipped from the shackle. – (FREEMAN)