NPA member flees from jail in Northern Samar

CATARMAN, N/Samar – A confessed member of the New People’s Army who was arrested by the police in March this year escaped from the maximum detention cell of the Allen sub-provincial jail on Thursday evening.

Aljun Cardenas, 18, a resident of Barangay Dawo Oquendo District Calbayog City, reportedly escaped by climbing the water tank beside the concrete fence at the back of the sub-provincial jail.

Two jail guards identified as Manuel Valenzuela and Joemar Miano went to the Allen police station to ask for police assistance to recapture Cardenas.

The jail guards and operatives of the Allen police station led by Police Major Florando Relente conducted an operation to recover Cardenas but to no avail.

Cardenas was captured by policemen at the battlefield during the foiled siege of the Victoria Police Station last March 28.

He was detained at the Northern Samar police provincial office lock-up cell but was eventually turned over to the Allen sub-provincial jail.

Cardenas faces charges for robbery with homicide and illegal possession of firearms.

Colonel Reynaldo Dela Cruz,  police provincial director,   expressed disappointment over the escape of Cardenas and ordered the latter’s immediate re-arrest. /lzb