3 Sagay City jail officers sacked over jailbreak

MANILA, Philippines - The warden and two officers of the Sagay City jail in Negros Occidental have been relieved from their posts after the escape of 13 inmates, mostly murder suspects, after a voters’ education seminar on Wednesday.

Relieved were Senior Inspector Benny Freddie Cobarde, the jail warden; and Jail Officers 1 Jover Valenzuela and Francis Valliador.

Chief Superintendent Diony Mamaril, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) director, ordered a thorough investigation into the jailbreak that took place shortly after the Commission on Elections conducted the voters’ education campaign for the 115 inmates of the Sagay City jail.

“The incident is regrettable. That is why we will never tolerate negligence in the performance of our duties and functions as jail officers,” Mamaril said, adding that appropriate charges will be filed.

Mamaril said the BJMP is doing its best, with the help of allied forces, to re-arrest the 13 inmates who bolted jail after disarming Valenzuela and Valliador.

The escapees were identified as Rolando Bajo, Gilbert Manija, Resty Dacaldacal, Richard Dacaldacal, Jeck Espanola, Jolito Subteniente, Armando Dilao, Marjon Bandala, Joemar Libester, Jimmy Vistar, Rey Villanueva, Joenard Quirante, and Eric Cordero.