Welcoming the new year is a big event that often eclipses all other events. So it is no wonder that certain crimes are carried out under the cover of this loud and boisterous event. Amidst this year’s merrymaking, 16 inmates took advantage and escaped from the Quezon City Jail. They did so by sawing through the metal bars of a jailhouse window and passed through the hole unnoticed in the night.
We were able to talk to QCPD Director Senior Supt. Joel D. Pagdilao on our morning show Kasangga Mo Ang Langit (6-7am) on DWIZ 882Khz and also heard in RPN provincial stations nationwide regarding the status of this jailbreak.
IMMEDIATE RECOVERY
It is with great news that Dir. Pagdilao started our interview. Out of the 16 inmates that escaped, only 7 remain at large. The recovered inmates were tracked by the combined efforts of the tracker teams organized by the QCPD, baranggay officials, the media, and even the relatives of the fugitives.
“We were able to recover them because everyone worked together. Our station commanders and operating units worked with other volunteers to recover the escapees as soon as possible,” said Dir. Pagdilao.
HOME SICK
The escapees’ top reason for doing what they did was that they were homesick for their families during the holiday season. However, the QCPD also appealed to them that they would only be aggravating their sentences should they continue to hide out and escape justice.
“Most of them only had city ordinance violations which would only take months to serve. If they continue eluding the eyes of the law, they would have to be charged up to 5 years on top of their already existing sentences,” said Dir. Pagdilao.
He also emphasized this appeal as he called on the remaining 7 escapees who are still at large.
PRISON BREAK
Dir. Pagdilao explained that the escapees took advantage of the fact that the detainees were singing and enjoying themselves during New Year’s Eve.
“The fact that the entire station was noisy gave them the cover to saw through the bars in their cell. However, when the personnel on duty heard loud noises on the rooftop, he immediately alerted the precinct regarding the jailbreak,” he explained.
Thus, out of the 53 detainees, only 16 were able to escape.
IDENTITIES
The following inmates were part of the jailbreak.
Charged with possession of deadly weapons:
Benedict Guinto, 18
Miguel Glino, 22
Rene Flores, 31
Jeremy Llena, 25
Dennis Natividad, 27
Thomas Evan, 25
Robbery suspects:
Roberto Valdez, 30
Roland Araneta, 18
Wilmar Morales, 38,
CJ Nuque, 19
Emerson Castro, 20, charged with frustrated homicide.
Rigor Alejandrino, 30, theft suspect.
Alvin Lorensaga, 27, charged with estafa.
John Patrick Dionido, accused of rape and robbery-holdup.
John Sicat, 30, accused of physical injuries.
NO SHOOT TO KILL
Dir. Pagdilao also clarified that there is no shoot to kill order for the recovery of the 7 inmates. Utmost caution is to be exercised when bringing these fugitives back to the detention facility.
SUMMATION
Taking advantage of festivities to carry out crimes is an often used modus operandi. So it should have been to the Cubao Police Station’s best interest to be on alert for these kinds of strategies. Given the negligence that personnel in this station exhibited that allowed for the jailbreak to occur, a serious investigation must be launched to ensure that such an event would not occur a second time.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“If you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence.” —Charles Bukowski
“I don’t like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there.” —Charles Bukowski