Carnap suspect back in jail hours after escape

By Jennifer P. Rendon

It was a short-lived taste of freedom for a carnapping suspect who was arrested several hours after he bolted his detention cell in San Dionisio Municipal Police Station.

Aris Anabo was arrested at 6:35 p.m. on Sept 28, 2022 as he was about to board a pump boat at Zone 1, Poblacion, Estancia, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Soviet Torre, San Dionisio police chief, said Anabo was supposed to sail to Masbate province when an intelligence police operative spotted him.

The 34-year-old Anabo, a resident of Barangay Borongon, San Dionisio, escaped his cell around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Staff Sergeant Marcelo Balogo, San Dionisio PNP custodial supervisor, discovered that Anabo was no longer in the cell as he was about to assume duties and responsibilities from the outgoing duty custodial officers and duty team.

Based on initial investigation, the duty sentinel checked on Anabo around 4-5 a.m. on Wednesday.

It is possible, Torre said, that the detainee escaped after the inspection.

The suspect detached by force a portion of his prison cell’s iron bar where he slipped out.

Anabo is deemed a Person Under Police Custody (PUPC) since a case for violation of Republic Act 6539 (Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972) was already filed against him.

Torre directed all personnel to conduct a hot pursuit operation for the fugitive’s arrest.

“We already assessed that it’s highly possible for him to flee by sea. That’s why, we have placed operatives at all ports and wharves in the fifth district of Iloilo,” he said.

With Anabo now behind bars again, Torre said they already fixed the grills at the detention by placing bigger round bars.

Anabo was imprisoned on Sept 20 after he allegedly stole a tricycle owned by a certain Dominic Bonzo.