10 bolt jail; Pasay cop exec axed

MANILA, Philippines — The commander of the Malibay police station in Pasay City was relieved from his post after 10 detainees bolted jail at dawn yesterday.

Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo sacked the police station’s chief, Maj. Jerry Sunga, while the jailbreak is being investigated.

The escapees were Richard de la Cruz, Carlo Benavidez, Christian Salvatierra, Norman Deyta, Joey Hernandez, Eden Garcia, Tirzo Galit, Romeo Marasigan, John Michael Cabe and Joshua Panganiban.

Hernandez and Garcia were recaptured along Noble street in Barangay 59 at around 11:30 a.m. Galit surrendered to police at around 1 p.m.

“We will sanction those found to be responsible for the incident,” Okubo said.

Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, director of the Southern Police District, ordered tracker teams to hunt down the escapees, six of whom are facing drug charges. The rest are facing complaints for robbery and car theft.

The jailbreak at the police station’s detention facility in Barangay 152 occurred at around 4:30 a.m., according to Kraft.

Investigators said three of the inmates cut the steel grills of the detention cell then beat up the jail officer on duty.

The detainees took the police officer’s service firearm, cash and keys.

Kraft urged those who have information on the whereabouts of the escapees to immediately coordinate with police. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab