2 inmates escape from QCPD station

MANILA, Philippines - Two inmates bolted out of a detention facility of a police station in Quezon City before dawn yesterday as policemen were attending to a complainant.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano said a manhunt has been launched to re-arrest Celino Santos, 42, and Florence Batoy, 26, after they escaped from the QCPD Station 10 along EDSA at around 3:45 a.m.

He added that he had ordered three tracker teams to go after the escapees. 

Albano said the jailbreak was discovered shortly after dawn during an accounting of inmates.

He said he has ordered the immediate relief of the policemen responsible for the inmates. Recommended for administrative relief were the duty officer, Inspector Ramon Austria, the duty desk officer and duty jail guard at that time.

“I will recommend the dismissal of these police officers since what happened is a gross negligence of their duties,” Albano said.

Albano said Santos, of Barangay Kamuning, was arrested for illegal possession of firearms while Batoy, of Mindanao Avenue, was arrested for robbery.