CEBU, Philippines - A 26-year-old female detainee who was allegedly arrested for shoplifting escaped from Balamban Police Station while the duty officer, her husband, and the management of the mall were trying to settle the case Tuesday morning.
Senior Police Officer 1 Jose Ranelito Villarino, the chief investigator, said that Gerlyn Rico, of Sangi, Toledo City, was arrested by the security guards of a mall in Balamban past 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Tuesday morning, her husband and the management of the mall were trying to settle the case amicably together with the suspect.
But when they were about to reach an agreement, the investigator said the suspect suddenly ran away.
“Ga-negotiate ang bana sa Gaisano para ma-settle, paglingi sa bana ang iyang asawa nigawas na wala na kapaabot,” Villarino said.
Because of what she has done, the management of the mall decided to file a theft charge against her.
“Detained na gyud unta to, mentras sige og estorya ang bana ug taga–Gaisano nidagan. Nasuko ang Gaisano (ug) file-lan (na hinuon) siya og kaso,” he added
Talamban Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Cesar Misola, said Villarino ordered the jailer, Police Officer 1 Alexander Camurot, to submit a written explanation why the suspect was able to run away.
For his part, Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office, said he directed the chief of the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch, Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, to conduct an investigation into the incident.
He said that the liability of the duty officers and the station chief will be determined after the investigation
“We will conduct investigation kung unsay accountability sa PNP officers,” Gillamac said.
Villarino said that they are still conducting an operation to locate and arrest the woman.
He added that a charge for theft was filed yesterday afternoon at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. (FREEMAN)