MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen police officers of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) were relieved after six Chinese detainees escaped from a detention facility while under their watch, the QCPD said Wednesday.
A statement from QCPD Public Information Office said QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo ordered the relief of the policemen assigned at the District’s Mobile Force Battalion for violation of Article 224 of the Revised Penal Code or evasion through negligence.
Montejo said the relieved policemen were also disarmed while an investigation is conducted for the filing administrative and criminal cases.
Montejo said the Chinese nationals identified as Zhang Yi Xin; Ludong Jin; Song Qicheng; Lu Yinliang; Huang Yong Qiao and Chen Bin went missing during a headcount at a detention facility inside Camp Karingal on Monday at around 9 p.m.
Montejo ordered a Tactical Motorized Unit under Police Major Leonie Ann Dela Cruz and Criminal Investigation Unit led by Police Major Elmer Monsalve to track down the escaped inmates.
The six detainees were later immediately rearrested near a creek in Mapagkumbaba Street corner Fugencio Street in Barangay Krus na Ligas at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Chinese nationals were earlier arrested by the QCPD and by the Bureau of Immigration for working at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) in Barangay Bago Bantay in Quezon City in December last year without working permits and visas.
The Pogo firm was also not allowed to operate by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, police said.