Night duty cop in hot water over suspect’s escape

A night duty cop is in trouble after a murder suspect left in his custody Sunday night was found missing from his cell the next day in Caloocan City, authorities reported yesterday.

Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton, Station Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (SIDMB) chief, said SPO1 Federico Villas of Police Community Precinct 16 in Barangay Camarin, has not reported for work since the incident.

Villas, Cuaton said, is facing criminal and administrative charges for his evident neglect of duty.

Suspect Angel Soliva, who had been in hiding from the law on two counts of murder for several years and arrested only last Sunday, Aug. 21, is again missing.

Cuaton told The STAR they are giving Villas until today to surface.

"It is the last day for him to appear before the pre-charge investigation we will be conducting. Only two things are clear in this case: either natakasan siya or pinatakas niya ang suspek at nagkapera siya. Either way, puro sabit siya kaya walang ibang pupuntahan ang kasong ito," Cuaton said.

The official added that they only have to establish Villas’ liability. He said the erring officer failed to make a report on the incident and has not reported for duty.

He is also considered absent without official leave (AWOL).

Initial investigation showed Villas was arrested at 3 p.m. last Sunday on a tip.

A team led by PO3 Joselito de los Reyes including five other policemen from PCP 16 made it to Soliva’s lair and cornered him at T. Sora corner Jacinto streets in Camarin.

The operatives went to the Warrant Office-North to turn over the suspect, but since there was no one there at that time, they brought back the suspect and detained him at the PCP 16 detention cell.

At the end of their duty, Soliva was turned over to Villas, who was on night duty. At 6 p.m. the following day, Monday, the day-shift discovered both Villas and the suspect gone.

Villas reportedly failed to officially turn over Soliva to them.

Cuaton said Villas has been relieved from his post.