COVID-19 positive ‘youth offender’ arrested

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— The 18-year-old male “youth offender” who allegedly escaped on Sunday from a quarantine facility at Hortus Botanicus in Brgy. Milibili here was already arrested Thursday afternoon.

Santos Manikan of Brgy. 5 was cornered by the Roxas City PNP’s COVID-19 Enforcers at San Roque Street here at around 4pm yesterday.

He sneaked out of the facility after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The youth offender was spotted by law enforcers at McKinley Street and immediately sought assistance from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

Manikan tried to flee after sensing the presence of authorities but he was cornered outside an establishment.

He was taken back to the Roxas City Crisis Center.

Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Nestor Buenviaje of Brgy. Punta Tabuc said Manikan’s girlfriend voluntarily surrendered to barangay officials of Punta Tabuc hours before her boyfriend’s arrest.

The lady denied meeting Manikan after he escaped. She said she stayed with her lady friends at Philippines Railway Street here as she was afraid to go home because her house had been cordoned by the civilian police and placed under lockdown.

She is presently at the quarantine facility of Barangay Punta Tabuc.