Jail guards in hot water for escape of 3 inmates

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — “Heads will roll,” Governor Edgar Chatto warned the guards at the Bohol District Jail in Cabawan district, this city, for being remiss in their duty that facilitated the escape of three inmates who are facing serious charges.

Chatto immediately ordered manhunt on the three escapees and coordinated with Provincial Police director Constantino Barot Jr in blocking all exit points of the province and putting up checkpoints in several places.

However, until late Friday afternoon, the hot pursuit remained futile and Barot believed the escapees might have separated ways and gone far already through sea transport.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II said it was obvious that there had been lapses on the part of the jail officers and they would be liable for the incident.

Provincial Jail Warden Reynan Torreon, who was in Cebu when the incident happened, will also be included in the investigation for command responsibility, Damalerio said.

SGO4 Christopher Gablines identified the three escapees as Exequiel Aniscal, 50, a resident of barangay San Vicente, Maribojoc; Brian Ceniza, 23, of barangay Napo, Inabanga; and Mario Ylaya, 23, of barangay Tambuan, Carmen.

Aniscal is facing charges of robbery with homicide, while Ceniza is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms based on Republic Act 8294, murder, carnapping and highway robbery; and Ylaya is facing charges of robbery with intimidation of person.

Aniscal and company had it easy while everyone was busy with the rehearsal for the graduation of the alternative learning program at around 2 p.m. on Thursday which was also the schedule for visiting.

Footage from the jail’s CCTV camera showed that the three, oblivious to everyone in the compound, left the crowd and went to the sentinel area at Gate 6 manned by four jail officers.

Aniscal poked a gun at Jail Officer 1 Jose Jomar Torreon and took his .45 caliber service firearm, then headed to Gate 2 and took the caliber .9mm service firearm of Senior Jail Officer 3 Menard Bompat.

They immediately fled on a getaway vehicle parked outside the jail with the key in it already. It was traced the next day that the motorcycle is owned by one Michael Manzano of Purok 7 in barangay Tawala, Panglao who had been listed in the logbook of visitors during that day.    - THE FREEMAN