Tondo jail escapee rearrested

MANILA, Philippines - Manila police officers rearrested a robbery suspect the other day after almost three years in hiding.

Ariel Dolente, 33, is facing robbery charges and was one of 17 inmates who bolted the Jose Abad Santos, Tondo police station’s detention cell under then Superintendent Florencio Ortilla in May 2006. Ten had been rearrested since then.

Upon replacing Ortilla last October, Superintendent Remigio Sedanto reviewed all the pending cases at the Jose Abad police station, including the escaped inmates, and ordered his men to hunt down them down.

Dolente was spotted in Camarin, Caloocan City, and Sedanto and his men caught Dolente after coordinating with the Caloocan police.

Dolente’s arrest was covered by a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Zanaida Daguna.

Sedanto said a manhunt has been launched against the six remaining escapees. – Nestor Etolle