De Lima sacks 2 guards after prison break

AFP joins PNP in manhunt for Ozamis rob gang chief

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered yesterday the relief of two prison guards in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after they were found liable for the escape of the convicted leader of the Ozamis robbery gang Saturday.

She also directed that administrative proceedings and investigation for possible criminal liability be conducted against Prison Guards 1 Ernesto Aquino and Niño Aquino, who were manning the West Gate of the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) where inmate Ricky Cadavero, alias Kambal, was reportedly snatched by three armed men.

“Upon learning about the NBP incident, I immediately went there and did my own investigation. I questioned the guards on duty and supervising officials, and made an ocular inspection of the incident site at the gate of RDC. It was very clear to me that serious lapses were committed by the guards on duty,” she said in a text message.

As for the liability of supervising officials, De Lima said an investigation was still being conducted.

Officials of NBP and Bureau of Corrections had just been replaced recently following the grenade explosion and discovery of contraband at the maximum security compound (MSC) last month.  National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Rafael Ragos has been named officer-in-charge of BuCor, while Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm superintendent Guillermo Ayala was designated OIC of NBP.

De Lima said tracker teams were immediately dispatched to find Cadavero. The Philippine National Police has also started its own manhunt.

The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Military Intelligence Group have coordinated with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in the hunt for Cadavero.

NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina confirmed the coordination with the two units, adding that they “have some positive developments but I cannot reveal them as yet because it might jeopardize ongoing operations.”

Sabotage?

With this latest incident, De Lima said she could not discount the possibility of sabotage as a probable motive behind the spate of untoward incidents in the national penitentiary that started last August with the reported kidnapping of convicted murderer Rolito Go.

“But it’s too early to tell if this latest incident is part of sabotaging efforts from certain elements. As you know, we are currently focused on investigations and setting up of stringent measures to curb illegal activities and contrabands (drugs, illicit weapons, prostitution) in NBP, especially in the (MSC),” she said.

De Lima said if she had her way, “I want everyone there replaced or sacked. But of course, we have laws or rules on security of tenure and due process to contend with. But I’m working on it already – plans to replace or augment existing personnel with more competent, dedicated and professional ones.”

She said she believes it is time to impose “complete overhaul” of the BuCor and NBP, starting with the re-training and re-orientation of their workforce.

Cadavero was able to escape from the NBP at around 9 a.m. when three men posing as his lawyer and two visitors pointed guns at the jail guards. The NBP report said the three men, along with Cadavero, escaped on two motorcycles.

The Ozamis robbery group is said to be behind numerous robberies in malls in Metro Manila, including those in Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Metro East, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Novaliches and Robinsons Dasmariñas, and a Landbank branch in Quezon City.