‘Wanted’ mayoral bet eludes arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A mayoral candidate in Capiz facing charges for murder eluded policemen out to serve a warrant for his arrest at a hospital in Iloilo City where he was scheduled for a checkup Sunday.

Leodegario Labao, who was tagged in the last year’s killing of Mambusao Vice Mayor Abel Martinez, was set to undergo angio-graphy at the St. Paul’s Hospital.

Police were informed of Labao’s presence at the hospital and went to arrest him at 11 a.m. but failed.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, said the hospital administrator told the policemen to wait in order not to disturb other patients.

“But when they were about to serve the arrest warrant, Labao was already nowhere to be found,” Cruz said.

Footage from the hospital’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera showed the policemen waiting outside the intensive care unit at 1:47 p.m. Another footage recorded at 2:04 p.m. showed two men and a woman helping Labao escape through the backdoor.

Hospital records showed Labao was confined since April 10.

“We will investigate if we could press charges against the hospital management. They could be liable for obstruction of justice and/or harboring or abetting a fugitive of the law,” Cruz said.

Last Saturday, Geger Francisco, another suspect in Martinez’s killing was arrested in Quezon City.

No bail was recommended for Labao, Francisco and the three other suspects – Roger Loredo, army sergeant Rommel Pamotillo and Sonny Danid.

Loredo is currently detained at the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail, Pamotillo was placed under the custody of the Philippine Army and Danid surrendered to police last Thursday.