Teen inmate bolts QC jail

7 jail guards suspended

MANILA, Philippines — An 18-year-old inmate escaped from the Quezon City jail by climbing a spiral staircase in the detention facility before dawn yesterday.

Seven jail guards were relieved from their posts following the escape of JR Mananquil, who was detained on charges of car theft and illegal possession of firearms on Dec. 7, city jail warden Superintendent Ermelito Moral said.

The jail officers are Senior Inspector David Jambalos, SJO4 Remegino Mina, SJO1 Dominador Zacarias, JO2 Antonio Ravago and JO1s Verdion Sayson, Ronnie Abugadie and Jhomer Balilawas.

Moral said Mananquil was able to escape by jumping from the jail’s perimeter fence, a spot where Balilawas was supposed to be posted between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Probers said they found blood on the barbed wires with a 10-foot drop from where the inmate escaped.

Chief Superintendent Dennis Rocamora, director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) National Capital Region office, ordered the relief of the jail guards to give way to an investigation into Mananquil’s escape.

“We will wait for the results of the probe. But definitely charges will be filed against those responsible for the escape,” Rocamora said.

He urged Mananquil’s relatives to cooperate in the probe.

BJMP chief Director Deogracias Tapayan ordered a manhunt for Mananquil.

Tapayan also placed the BJMP on full alert to  ensure that no jailbreak will occur during the holidays.

Mananquil was committed to the city jail last week after he was arrested last August for allegedly stealing a motorcycle along with two other suspects.