Chinese drug suspect vanishes from Makati jail

An alleged Chinese drug trafficker has escaped from a "well-secured" Makati City jail early yesterday morning.

Police said the suspect, identified as Ding Cai Hui or Tony Lao, managed to pass through six gates without having the jail guards on duty notice him.

Initial investigation revealed that Lao escaped from Cell No. 8 between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. His cellmates said they last saw him at around 3 a.m.

After jail officers conducted a head count at around 6 a.m., they discovered that Lao was gone.

Jail warden Chief Inspector Pepe Quinones was relieved from his post yesterday.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief Arturo Alit said Police Superintendent Edgar Bolcio would immediately take over Quinones’ post.

Alit said they are puzzled over Lao’s mysterious escape because "the jail facilities was highly secured. It has high walls in the perimeter."

He said the six jail guards and their supervisor on duty during the escape were placed under tactical interrogation.

They were Senior Jail Officer 2 Arlic Almojuela, SJO1 Jose Lagahit, JO1 Reynaldo Pascual, JO1 Manuel Palileo, JO1 Jaime Ibarra, JO1 Manuel Loyola and JO1 Rommel Robles.

"Of course, they are our primary suspects. We are looking into a possible inside job on this case," said the BJMP chief. "How can he (Lao) pass through six secured gates?"

Lao, 35, was arrested last year. He was accused of drug trafficking or violation of the Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Drugs Act, an offense punishable by death. Makati RTC Branch 135 Judge Francis Ibay recommended no bail for the Chinese national.

Ernesto Romero, the former jail warden who was transferred to the Caloocan City jail two months ago, told The STAR that there were obvious security lapses during the night of Lao‘s escape.

"Under my watch, this would have never happened," he said. "As the warden, he (Quinones) should have close monitored not only on his guards but the inmates as well."

There are 1,004 inmates in the Makati City jail. Only six guards were present the other night. Their shift was from 11 p.m. up to 7 a.m.

Sources said there are normally seven guards during the graveyard shift. One of them was absent during Lao’s escape.

Jail guards told The STAR that they have been appealing for a salary increase. They said they only received P5,000 every month.

They also said Lao’s escape has changed the mood of those in the jail. They were supposed to hold a Christmas party yesterday but it was postponed because of the incident.