Cebu’s top wanted person escapes from jail

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are conducting a manhunt operation to recapture a person deprived of liberty (PDL) who escaped from the custodial facility of Talisay City Police Station in Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

Arnel Ocaña, 38, of Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City, was arrested in the city on April 23 for a rape charge which he had allegedly committed in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Baybayan, Talisay City police chief, said Ocaña was supposed to be transported to Cebu.

On Wednesday morning, Baybayan said that Ocaña complained that he was experiencing abdominal pain and difficulty of breathing.

The desk officer then immediately assisted Ocaña and made him lie down on a row of steel chairs in the lobby area.

But when the desk officer returned to the desk to contact the Talisay City Health Office through a landline, Ocaña ran and jumped over the concrete wall at the back portion of the police station.

“Medyo konti lang yung bahay doon sa likod,” Baybayan said.

Baybayan said the desk officer was also assigned as a jailer that time since the duty jailer was deployed for election duties.

Baybayan said that Ocaña probably went home in the province after allegedly committing the offense in Cebu, where he was identified as a top wanted person in Mandaue.

Because of the incident, Baybayan said the desk officer was restricted at the police station while investigation is ongoing.

Baybayan said the desk officer/jailer may face administrative charges for neglect of duty.

For now, the desk officer was advised to make a written explanation about the incident, Baybayan said.