Cebu City warden sacked over jailbreak

CEBU CITY — The warden of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center here has been relieved from his post following the escape Monday morning of eight inmates, six of whom were later rearrested.

Jail warden Ernesto Abella was sacked by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regional director Diony Mamaril. Chief Inspector Hernan Grande was appointed as officer-in-charge of the rehabilitation center.

Monday’s jailbreak was the third in the last six months, all of which happened under Abella’s stewardship.

The eight escapees were identified as Darwin Tabonares, Rail Bautista, Dante Duarte, Lester Prosio, Mitchelle Bernabe, Rodrigo Sasing, Constantino Reyes and Jessy Lopez.

They are facing charges for murder, robbery and illegal drugs.

Reportedly armed with an improvised chisel, a hammer and a crude handgrenade, the eight inmates held jailguards JO1s Lucito Mymald Cabillan, duty desk officer, Crisostomo Lucero and Jerry Lamparero, both assigned at the gates, hostage before fleeing.

A witness told the police that he saw the escapees coming out of the rehabilitation center and crossing Salinas Drive. He said at least four of them boarded a taxi and sped toward San Jose de la Montana Avenue.

One of those rearrested, Tabonares, suffered a gunshot wound in the right shoulder when one of the pursuing jailguards shot him while trying to force his way into a taxi. Still at large are Bautista and Lopez.

Councilor Sylvan Jack Jakosalem said Abella should have drawn up a temporary security measure for the day, considering that 12 of his jailguards were out for the Tagbo sa Katawhan event.

Jakosalem said the city government requested Mamaril to relieve Abella pending the investigation into the jailbreak.

Abella said he welcomed his relief because it would mean more time with his family. He will be in a "floating status" at the BJMP regional office pending the results of the investigation. — Freeman News Service