Caloocan’s top cop axed after jailbreak

MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan City’s police chief was removed from his post after 13 detainees escaped from a detention facility, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said yesterday.

Col. Dario Menor was relieved on Oct. 23, a day after the jailbreak, Sinas said, stressing that the NCRPO simply implemented the Philippine National Police’s order and the PNP has yet to determine if Menor could indeed be held liable for the incident.

“We are investigating the case, the level ng culpability at command responsibility,” Sinas told reporters in a press briefing yesterday.

“As to the relief of Menor, it was initiated by Camp Crame so we just followed and implemented the directive,” he added, referring to the PNP headquarters.

Menor is in the custody of the PNP’s Directorate for Logistics at Camp Crame while his replacement, Col. Samuel Mina, is still under quarantine after contracting COVID-19, Sinas said.

The officer-in-charge of the city police force is Lt. Col. Ilustre Mendoza, according to Sinas.

On Oct. 22, 13 detainees escaped from a warehouse converted into a temporary jail by using a concrete nail to carve out a hole in the warehouse wall. The warehouse is near the city hall.

Menor previously identified Executive M/Sgt. Wilfredo Muyon and Cpl. Melvin Valez, who were on duty at the detention facility, as those who could be held accountable for the jailbreak.

Four of the 13 escapees remain at large, according to Northern Police District director Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan. They are drug suspects Martin Kaber Mama, 46, and Norbert Bogarin Alvarez, 35; and theft and robbery suspects Gerrymar Petilla Bajar, 21, and Raymond Fernandez Balasa, 35.

None of the recaptured fugitives tested positive for COVID-19, he noted.