16 inmates escape QC jail

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen inmates bolted from a jail in Quezon City Wednesday early morning.

As this developed, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Police Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said a massive manhunt operation was launched against 16 inmates who escaped from a detention facility in Cubao Police Station. 

Pagdilao identified those who escaped were Benedict Guinto (violation of City Ordinance 5121), John Sicat (physical injury), Roberto Valdez (robbery/akyat-bahay), Roland Araneta (robbery-holdup), CJ Nuque (robbery/snatching), Rene Flores violation of City Ordinance 5121), Robert Lacaba (alarm and scandal), Jeremy Ilena (violation of Presidential Decree 1602), Wilmar Morales (robbery/akyat-bahay), Emerson Castro (frustrated homicide), Miguel Glino (violation of City Ordinance 5121), Rigor Alejandrino (theft/shoplifting), John Patrick Dionido (rape and robbery holdup), Thomas Evan Labutong (violation of City Ordinance 5121), Alvin Lorenzaga (estafa) and Dennis Natividad (violation of City Ordinance 5121).

PS-7 head Police Superintendent Wilson Delos Santos said the detainees escaped from their detention facility at around 2:30 a.m. 

The detainees escaped as  the duty desk officer, Senior Police Officer 1 Jade Gavina, went to the comfort room. 

Gavina,said he went for personal necessity when he heard an unusual noise coming from the rooftop of the detention cell. 

Sensing that there was something wrong, he went outside the perimeter fence along EDSA and saw one of the detainees attempting to escape.

When he accounted for the inmates, Gavina found out that 16 detainees were missing.

Pagdilao directed the District Investigation and Detective Management Division to probe the incident and file appropriate administrative and or criminal charges against those personnel involved.

He also relieved Delos Santos pending investigation and designated Police Superintendent Marlou Martinez, who used to head the "Task Force Kalsada", officer in charge of PS-7. 

Pagdilao ordered all police station commanders to inspect their respective detention facilities to prevent similar incidents.