Cops to face charges for detainee's escape

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch has found probable cause in recommending administrative charges for grave misconduct against two cops over the escape of a female detainee whom they left while breastfeeding her child.

This, after the PIDMB found PO1 Julios Patac and PO2 Glen Rosal committed an act of infidelity in the custody of the prisoner, a crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

The case will be forwarded to the Police Regional Office-7 for a summary hearing.

Last month, Patac and Rosal were supposed to escort prisoner Dionisia Lumantao when the latter asked to breastfeed her child outside the Consolacion Police Station. Lumantao eventually fled.

Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, PIDMB chief, said as long as the detainee was out of jail, it was the burden of Patac and Rosal to have direct supervision, control and custody of Lumantao.

No record in the police blotter said both police officers turned over Lumantao to the desk officer when they arrived at the police station from committing the suspect at the Regional Trial Court Branch 55, Mandaue City.

"In this case there is no command of responsibility kay gi-withdraw man from the police station to the court ang suspek…sala lang gyud to nila kay ilang napasagdan," Albotra told The FREEMAN.

Lumantao, a resident of Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion, was arrested by the police last March 2 by virtue of an arrest warrant in relation to Section 11 of  R.A. 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Estella Alma Singco.

She was committed to the issuing court so she will be remanded to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology but due to the lack of time, policemen decided to remand her the next day.

It was at this point that Lumantao pleaded to the police to allow her to breastfeed her baby at a bench outside the police station, to which Patac agreed.

A few minutes later, Lumantao took the chance to escape and successfully did.

According to the PIDMB, good faith, so to speak, is not a valid defense relative to offenses committed through negligence.

In this case, Rosal and Patac failed to exercise the degree of care required by law as arresting officers and police escorts of the detainee, PIDMB said. (FREEMAN)