MANILA, Philippines—The police escorts of bank robbery suspect Pedro Rodica were ordered relieved while the investigation into the latter’s escape has begun, the Philippine National Police said Saturday.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome identified the three policemen as SPO2 Serafin Castellano, PO3 Randy Dangaap and PO3 Juanito Felices.

“We want to see what their lapses were and whether culpability for the escape would be at their level or whether it would go higher,” Bartolome said.

The three policemen were assigned to Quezon City police station 7 at Camp Panopio in Cubao.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Geary Barias said he was waiting for the QC police department to submit a report on the escape.

Eight heavily armed men sprung Rodica from police custody last Friday on Edsa in Cubao as he was being transported to the Quezon City jail in Kamuning from the PNP crime laboratory in Camp Crame.

Just the day before, Rodica, 32, was presented to the media at PNP headquarters at Crame to highlight the Metro Manila police’s campaign against bank robberies.

PNP Director General Avelino Razon has ordered a massive metropolis-wide hunt for Rodica, alleged to be one of the most notorious bank robbers in the country, and his cohorts.