Leyte jail warden sacked over escape

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  – Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla has relieved a jail warden from his post following the escape last Sunday night of nine inmates from the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City.

Senior board member Atty. Carlo Loreto said in a radio interview that Petilla, upon being briefed on the jailbreak, ordered jail warden Nelson Ibañez removed from his post and formed a panel to investigate the incident.

“The investigating team will find out the real score behind the jailbreak so that jail officials (who are liable) will be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.

Loreto identified the escapees as Cornelio Rico, Joey del Monte, Leonil Flores, Edgar Dumangas, Romvic Bakiyo, Arturo Palmero, Patricio Austero, Albert Raga, and Carlos Camogao – who are facing charges ranging from murder and rape to car theft, robbery and illegal drugs.

The inmates managed to bolt the sub-provincial jail – less than a kilometer from the Baybay City proper – by subduing jail guard Alexander Cinco who was conducting the routine headcount at around 8:15 p.m. Sunday.

One of the escapees (Del Monte) poked a caliber .45 pistol at Cinco. As they fled through the jail’s main entrance, they divested jail guard Ramil Dionisio of his shotgun.

Cinco, Dionisio and two other on-duty jail guards – Guillermo Flores Jr. and Rafael Doloso – are now under investigation.

Authorities have distributed pictures of the escapees in Baybay City as part of the manhunt.         – Miriam Garcia Desacada