16 detainees bolt QC jail

MANILA, Philippines - At least 16 inmates escaped from their detention cells at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in Cubao early morning yesterday.

QCPD director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said a manhunt has been launched for the 16 detainees.

Pagdilao identified the escapees as Benedict Guinto, Rene Flores, Miguel Glino, Thomas Evan Labutong and Dennis Natividad, who violated City Ordinance 5121 (possession of deadly weapons); John Sicat, physical injury; Roberto Valdez and Wilmar Morales, robbery/akyat-bahay; Roland Araneta, robbery/holdup; CJ Nuque, robbery/snatching; Robert Lacaba, alarm and scandal; Jeremy Ilena, illegal gambling; Emerson Castro, frustrated homicide; Rigor Alejandrino, theft/shoplifting; John Patrick Dionido, rape and robbery/holdup; and Alvin Lorenzaga, estafa.

Initial reports showed that the prisoners escaped at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday by destroying the steel bar of the detention facility inside the Cubao police station at Camp Panopio.

“The jail guard went out to pee and when he returned he heard a loud thud at the back of the prison, so he went to investigate. That’s how the mass escape was noticed,” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said.

SPO1 Jade Gavina, the duty desk officer, said he sensed something amiss so he went outside the perimeter fence along EDSA and saw one of the detainees running away.

According to Valmoria, one of the prisoners was recaptured by a follow-up police team and being questioned on who planned and masterminded the mass escape.

The NCRPO chief relieved the Cubao police station commander Superintendent Wilson delos Santos, Gavina and the jail warden following the escape.

Valmoria warned that more heads would roll should investigation being conducted by the QCPD establish lapses on the eve of the New Year.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and the District Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD) are probing the incident and would submit reports as soon as possible.

Superintendent Marlou Martinez, who used to head Task Force Kalsada, was designated as Cubao police station officer-in-charge.                 – With Non Alquitran