Two cops charged for jailbreak post bail

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Two police officers who were criminally charged and detained for the escape of four detainees of Police Station 3 here on Monday were released from detention Tuesday after posting bail.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said jailer Police Staff Sergeant Eric Olverio and desk officer Police Corporal Orwayne Jade Nadado posted bail of P18,000 each yesterday after they were charged for infidelity in the custody of prisoners before the City Prosecutor’s Office last Monday.

Pico said the two policemen were disarmed and restricted to the police station pending investigation on the jail break involving four detainees.

Early Monday, the two police officers allegedly abandoned their posts and later discovered that detainees Sunny Capa,22, Ely Lorence Sazon, 22, and Jeffrey Elangos, 38,  all residents of Barangay Banago; and Michael Peñoso, 25, of Barangay 2, escaped from the station by sawing off the iron bars of the jail cell.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Henry Biñas, BCPO director, said he directed Police Major Ruel Culanag, Station 3 commander, to recapture the escapees within two weeks.

Biñas said the sanction for failure to recapture the escapees will depend on the results of the investigation.

“But, definitely it will affect the evaluation of his performance as police chief,” he added.

Biñas said that eight other policemen who were also on duty that day but were conducting patrolling, will also be investigated and made to explain.

He said that he will request for the immediate transfer of Olverio and Nadado to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Iloilo City.

“If the investigation proves there’s negligence on their part, they are administratively liable for gross neglect of duty which is punishable for dismissal from the service,” he added.

Biñas said that Culanag was not relieved from the post yet because they are still evaluating if there’s lapses on his part though he was not around at the station when the jail break occurred. His deputy chief, Police Lieutenant Vergel Valdepeña was on duty at that time.

Biñas also assured that he will be transparent in the investigation.

He advised the escapees to surrender since they are much safer in the custody of the police.

“Mas safe sila kung sa presuhan sila (for now), they know what is happening around,” he said.