Authorities have recaptured on Thursday five of the 16 inmates who escaped from the jail of the Quezon City precinct in Cubao last Tuesday.
Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao, QC Police Director, said Robert Lacaba, facing alarm and scandal was arrested hours after the escape in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The manuhunt team caught Benedict Guinto (City Ordinance 5221 possession of bladed weapon); Rigor Alejandria (theft/shoplifting)in Camchile at 12:10 a.m.; Thomas Evan Labutong, (possession of bladed weapon) in Barangay Kaularan at 12:45 a.m.; and John Patrick Dionido(rape and robbery holdup).
Pagdilao said the remaning fugitives are composed of John Sicat (Physical Injury), Roberto Valdez (Robbery/Akyat-Bahay), Roland Araneta (Robberry-Holdup), CJ Nuque (Robberry/Snatching), Rene Flores (Ordinance 5121), Jeremy Ilena (Violation of PD 1602), Wilmar Morales (Robbery/Akyat-bahay), Emerson Castro (Frustrated Homicide), Miguel Glino (City Ordinance 5121), Alvin Lorenzaga (Estafa) and Dennis Natividad (City Ordinance 5121).
Relieved from duty was Supt. Wilson De los Santos, station head, while an investigation of laspses in security and a manhunt of the fugitives were ordered.
“Of the 53 detainees at the Cubao police station, 16 went missing. One was recaptured,” Pagdilao told dzBB in an interview.
He designated Supt. Marlou Martinez, former “Task Force Kalsada” head, as officer in charge, replacing De los Santos.
It was reported that only one officer and a non-commissioned staff were on duty when the incident took place at past 2 a.m.
“We saw the lapses in the security,” Pagdilao said, noting reports that there was a commotion in the cells to distract the attention of the jailguards while the inmates were sawing the steel bars of their cell.
In a report to Pagdilao, SP01 Jade Gavina was on his way to the rest room when he heard unusual noise at the roof of the cell and a subsequent headcount revealed 16 inmates were missing.
The District Investigation and Detective Management Division has been ordered to file administrative and criminal charges against those respnsible for the jailbreak.