Cops tracking five escapees

CEBU, Philippines — The authorities are still on a manhunt operation against the remaining five Persons Under Police Custody (PUPC) who had escaped from their temporary detention facility at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) last Tuesday night.

Two of them were immediately recaptured in a follow-up operation conducted on the same night.

Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro identified those who are still at large as Edjon Carbantes, Jorsua Burgos, Jave Pongcol, Marcelo Geronggay and a certain Lucio Papas Llamedo.

All of them were arrested for drug-related cases in separate police operations, but escaped together from the facility at around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night.

Ferro said that the jail officers would also be investigated as their initial investigation revealed that there were lapses on their part.

“I think the jailer has something to explain, if they will be found negligent including the on-duty officer, they will be charged with proper penalty…dismissal from the service,” Ferro told reporters.

Based on their investigation, the PUPCs managed to bolt out of the concrete wall of the comfort room that was constructed inside the facility.

Ferro narrated that they were able to find the pipes for the water supply.

The pipes were then used to destroy the concrete wall in front of the jail bars.

“A very small hole, but they were able to escape,” Ferro said.

He added that the jailer also missed to do a daily check of the facility and the inmates.

He said that they do not discount the possibility that the jailer might have fallen asleep when the inmates escaped.

Ferro has instructed CPPO Director Roderick Mariano to check on how they can reinforce the facility and to tighten the security measures to avoid the incident from happening again.

Ferro also said that these PUPC might have planned their escape just inside the facility.  GAN (FREEMAN)