Newly arrested robbery-slay suspect escapes from Camarines Norte jail

NAGA CITY, Philippines — The Philippine National Police in Camarines Norte intensified on Thursday its manhunt for one of the most wanted men in the province who escaped from prison on Tuesday.

The escapee, identified as Ramil Trinidad, a robbery and homicide suspect, escaped from the jail of the police station in Labo town late in the evening of Tuesday, just four days after he was arrested in Quezon province.

Trinidad, who has been facing robbery with homicide charges at a Regional Trial Court in the capital town of Daet for allegedly killing a couple in Talisay town on Oct. 23, 2011, was earlier on the run and was considered one of the most wanted men in Camarines Norte until his arrest last April 13 in Barangay Sta. Maria in Calauag, Quezon.

He was brought back to Camarines Norte and imprisoned in Labo because it supposedly had a more secured jail.

Senior Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Camarines Norte police director, said in a statement Thursday that Trinidad’s escape at about 9:50 p.m. was done with the help of Jonabelle Raneses, the prisoner’s live-in partner.

Raneses, according to Esquivel, came to visit Trinidad in the lock-up cell, bringing with her bottled water and personal belongings of Trinidad.

“Raneses asked the duty officer (at that time), Police Officer 2 Jelmor John Imperial, to open the steel door of the lock-up jail. When the door was opened, Raneses forcibly pushed the jail door towards PO2 Imperial causing the police officer to fall down,” said Esquivel.

Trinidad then ran outside the jail and jumped over the eight-foot concrete fence surrounding the police station and fled away, added Esquivel.

“When PO2 Imperial was about to chase the suspect, Raneses blocked and wrestled with the [him] to prevent her live-in partner from being arrested,” Esquivel further said.

The Labo police immediately carried out the manhunt operation, while Raneses was arrested for facilitating the escape and was detained at the police station in the neighboring Talisay town. She is facing charges for obstruction of justice.

The manhunt for Trinidad is being done in the entire province.  All police stations were ordered to conduct checkpoint and intelligence operations to track down the suspect.