4 detainees bolt MPD jail

MANILA, Philippines — Four detainees escaped from the Manila Police District (MPD) detention facility last week, police reported yesterday.

The escapees were Jose Johnson Nuevo, Exequiel Crisostomo, Richard Pineda and Christopher Saladaga.

Police said Nuevao, Crisostomo and Pineda were arrested on drug charges. Saladaga was nabbed for illegal gambling.

According to a police report, the detainees escaped by cutting off the metal window of their detention cell at the Pritil police community precinct (PCP) between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Dec. 26.

A source said the detainees were discovered missing when PCP commander Capt. Monico Alliado conducted an inspection the following day.

MPD officials allegedly tried to hide the jailbreak because there was no incident report.

The STAR tried to contact Alliado and MPD Station 1 commander Christopher Navida, who has jurisdiction over the PCP, but they did not reply.

Lt. Col. Carlo Magno Manuel, public information chief of the MPD, said they heard about the incident. But he refused to comment, saying he “was not in a position to talk.”

He said Alliado has yet to submit a police report about the incident.

Manuel said a manhunt had been launched to recapture the escapees.