BID sacks guard who let loose Jordanian detainees

Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo fired yesterday a contractual security guard assigned at the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) jail in Bicutan in connection with the escape of two Jordanian detainees the other day.

Domingo immediately terminated the services of Hermogenes Castillo who was blamed for the escape of the two Jordanians identified as Adnan Salem Al-Balawi and Eyman Damous. She also required the warden, Renato Calingasan, to explain the escape within 72 hours.

The detainees reportedly disappeared without a trace Monday afternoon while being escorted by Castillo back to their Bicutan cell hours after the duo attended a court hearing in Makati.

Domingo instructed immigration intelligence chief Lino Calingasan to immediately launch a manhunt for the escapees who were both arrested for involvement in telecoms fraud. She also instructed Calingasan to file charges against Castillo for infidelity in the custody of prisoners.

It was gathered that Castillo has not reported for work since Monday afternoon when the prisoners escaped and has not submitted a report or written explanation on the incident.

Initial investigation showed that after attending their hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC), the Jordanians were first brought by Castillo to the immigration main office in Intramuros to get some documents needed by the detainees in their trial. The jail warden then instructed Castillo to escort the Jordanians back to Bicutan but instead of obeying the order, he brought the detainees to Al-Balawi’s house in Sta. Mesa. A few hours later, Castillo phoned Calingasan to report that the detainees had escaped, alleging that he could no longer find them after he went to the comfort room. — Rey Arquiza