Cops hunt 4 jail escapees

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A manhunt operation is ongoing to recapture four detainees who escaped from the custodial facility of Police Station 3 in Barangay Mandalagan here early Monday.

Police identified the escapees as Sunny Capa, Ely Lorence Sazon, 22, and Jeffrey Elangos, 38, all residents of Barangay Banago; and Michael Peñoso, 25, of Barangay 2.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the detainees escaped the facility by cutting off the iron bar using a saw blade. Then they jumped off the back of the station during their escape, he added.

The incident was discovered by Police Staff Sergeant Eric Olverio and Police Corporal Orwayne Jade Nadado around 12:45 a.m.

Capa and Sazon were arrested last December 20 for the seizure of P9.1 million worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust at Barangay Banago while Peñoso was apprehended in a drug bust at the said village for the confiscation of P180,000 worth of the same contraband last December 1.

Elangos, who was charged for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” had previously tried to escape the jail but he was prevented.

Pico, who went to the police station for inspection yesterday after the incident, said the two policemen allegedly abandoned their posts and went to a room based on a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage installed at the station.

He said they have yet to know how the escapees possessed a saw blade as investigation is ongoing.

He said the two policemen were also restricted as they also face probe about what happened.

They may face administrative sanction for gross neglect of duty and criminal charges for infidelity in the custody of prisoner tantamount to dismissal from the service, Pico said.

Police Major Ruel Culanag, station commander was not around when it happened but due to command responsibility, he will also be investigated, he added.

As of Monday afternoon, an inquest case was filed with the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office against Olverio and Nadado, two police officers who were on duty when the jailbreak occurred. They were charged for infidelity in the custody of prisoners.

The two cops were also disarmed and detained at their station.