2 cops face raps for alleged cop killer's escape

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City police is set to file criminal charges today against two of its men for the escape of a rob-slay suspect from the Philippine General Hospital last week.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Tomas Apolinario said infidelity in the custody of a prisoner will be filed against Police Officers 2 Joseph Ventura and Danilo Vega, who were earlier relieved for the escape of Michael Manansala Labor. Ventura and Vega are with Taguig’s police community precinct 5.

Labor has been confined at the PGH since June 15 after he was shot by PO1 Venerado Pantino in an attempted robbery. Pantino, of the National Capital Region Police (NCRPO), on the other hand, died in the heist.

Last Thursday, Labor reportedly fled the hospital using a motorcycle. His guards Vega and Ventura, according to witnesses, were nowhere to be found.

Labor was recaptured with five alleged cohorts at past midnight Saturday in a rented apartment in San Pedro, Laguna by police teams from Taguig, San Pedro, and the NCRPO.

San Pedro police chief Superintendent Kirby John Kraft said Labor was “surprised” and was not able to resist arrest. He added that the suspect’s wound is still fresh, which made it difficult for him to elude the police.

Police Officer 3 Marlon Jerusalem of Taguig City police investigation identified three of Labor’s companions as: Edwin Lojero, Marlon Esteban, and Michael Tagalog. Apolinario said the five will be charged for harboring a criminal.

No additional charges will be filed against Labor because he is not yet convicted, Apolinario explained. The police will, nonetheless, include Labor’s escape in his case in court to ensure stiffer penalties against him.  – Aie Balagtas See, Non Alquitran