Manhunt on for missing Dalaig slay suspect
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:01:00 06/09/2008
Filed Under: Police, Prison, Crime
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is hunting down the policeman who is a suspect in the killing of Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal division chief Alioden Dalaig who escaped from detention inside a police camp in Metro Manila.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Eric Javier said PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon has ordered the formation of “Task Force Ampatuan” to hunt down Police Officer 2 Basser Ampatuan and to find out how he slipped out of police detention. The task force will be led by Chief Inspector Agapito Quimson.
Reports reaching Camp Crame said Ampatuan could not be accounted for since Saturday night. Ampatuan was under restrictive custody by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.
“We are still trying to ascertain his whereabouts at present,” Javier told reporters in Camp Crame Monday.
Ampatuan was last seen at around 1 a.m. last Saturday when he asked to go to the toilet but shortly returned to his quarters.
Ampatuan’s escape was discovered at around 7 a.m. There was no indication he escaped through the window of his quarters.
“We have been keeping Ampatuan under restrictive custody under PNP Disciplinary Rules that authorizes the PNP Chief to place personnel under restrictive custody during the pendency of a grave administrative case filed against him or even after the filing of a criminal complaint that is grave in nature,” Javier explained.
Javier also said they are questioning Ampatuan’s guard at that time, identified as Police Officer 2 Mark Pasagui.
He added that they have asked the help of security officials of airports and seaports to make sure Ampatuan does not slip away.
He also said the probe on Ampatuan’s disappearance would also ascertain any possible lapses of his custodians.
While a warrant for his arrest has yet to be issued for the killing of Dalaig last November in Manila, Razon had ordered the detention of Ampatuan for a possible administrative case. A female witness had pointed to Ampatuan as one of Dalaig’s alleged killers.
Ampatuan was arrested in Shariff Kabunsuan province in April. An administrative case has been filed against him and is now undergoing a summary hearing with the PNP.
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