Chief Insp. Benny Freddie Cobarde was relieved as the jail warden of the Sagay City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology yesterday following the escape of 13 inmates Wednesday, BJMP Region 6 Director Senior Supt. Ignacio Panti told the DAILY STAR.

Panti, who went to Sagay City yesterday, said he designated Senior Jail Officer 4 Eduardo Bañares as the officer-in-charge of the Sagay City Jail while the investigation of the escape is on going.

Aside from Cobarde, Panti also ordered the relief of Jail Officers 1 Joever Valenzuela and Francis Ballador, who were the custodial officers on duty when the escape happened.

After the headcount at the basketball court at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday murder suspect Rolando Bajo, “alias Ron-Ron,” 22, of Brgy. Paraiso, Sagay City , pointed a .38 caliber revolver he personally owned at Valenzuela and Ballador, Senior Jail Officer 3 Leo Lacerna of the BJMP Region 6 Investigation and Prosecution Division, said.

Illegal drug suspect Rey Villanueva, “alias Nonoy”, 28, of Brgy. Rizal, Sagay City, then disarmed Ballador and Valenzuela and took his cellular phone, while Bajo shot the padlock enabling the other inmates to rush out and all together they escaped through the gate behind the BJMP, Lacerna also said.

Those who escaped were identified as Joemar Libester, “alias Toto”, 26, of Brgy. Taba-ao, Jimmy Vistar “alias Toto”, 18, of Brgy. Old Sagay, Richard Dacaldacal, “alias Katumbal”, 28, of Brgy. Malubon, Marlon Bandala, “alias Toto”, 24 and Armando Dilao, “alias Kadjo”, 24, of Brgy. Rizal, Jolito Subtentiente, Jr. “alias Banjol”, 26, of Brgy. Rafaela Barera, Jonard Quirante, “alias Pulis”, 22, of Brgy. Paraiso, Gilbert Manija, “alias Ipong”, 24, of Brgy. Makiling, Eric Cordero, “alias CJ”, 18, of Brgy. Poblacion, Resty Dacaldacal, “alias Toto”, 22 and Jeck Española, “alias Jojo”, 24, of Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Sagay City.

The Dacaldacals, Manija, Dilao, Bandala, Española and Vistar are facing murder charges, while Subteniente, Libester, Quirante and Cordero are facing frustrated homicide, robbery with rape, Violation of the Women and their Children Act, and theft, respectively.

Investigation conducted by the BJMP and the police showed that Bajo, a former criminology student, planned the escape.

Panti said they are still puzzled as to how Bajo obtained his gun, but what is definite, he said, is that there was laxity on the part of the jail officers on duty during the escape.

Panti said that some of the inmates had sent surrender feelers but, as of press time yesterday, none of them have showed up. He said they are also verifying reports that nine of the escapees were spotted in Brgy. Paraiso.

MANHUNT, REWARD

A manhunt operation in Western Visayas and even in Negros Oriental was launched by the police to recapture the escapees, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz.

De la Paz said the escapees must be recaptured immediately because they are armed and dangerous. He said the Sagay City police and the Public Safety Company, and the Philippine Army have also augmented the manhunt operation.

The Philippine National Police has put up a P10,000 reward to whoever can give information on the whereabouts of the inmates. More officers were also assigned at the jail after the escape.*APN

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