During pacman's fight inmate bolts jail; burial left undone

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The fight between world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and his Mexican foe Juan Manuel Marquez caused two incidents in Aklan: an inmate escaped from jail, and a casket was left behind at a cemetery, without completing the burial.

In the case of the inmate, Aklan Rehabilitation Center warden Helacio Guarino said the inmate Mario Trinidad, who has a pending murder case, took advantage of the situation to escape while the guards and co-inmates were glued to the TV set for the Pacquiao-Marquez bout.

Trinidad allegedly sneaked out and scaled a wall at the back portion of the ARC jail, said Guarino, adding that a pursuit operation was immediately conducted right after jail personnel learned about the inmate's escape.

It was not clear what drove Trinidad to bolt his cell but his fellow prisoners claimed that he did so because his daughter, who is graduating from school, recently eloped with a man.

In another incident at the Medalla Milagrosa Cemetery in Kalibo, Aklan, a metal casket was found to have been abandoned in a mausoleum and covered only by a sack.

Some people, who were attending another burial, saw it and got scared, causing them to scamper out of the area. The others left the place saying they feared of possible disease exposed from the dead in the abandoned casket.

Minutes later, cemetery caretaker Robert Cipriano, arrived to explain that he and his men were delayed in "disposing" of the casket because they decided to watch the Pacquiao's boxing match first. He further clarified that the remains of the coffin were securely buried at a tomb.

On the same day, Cipriano assured the people that they would burn the casket. (FREEMAN)