Cops on duty in Mandaluyong jailbreak face raps

MANILA, Philippines—Police on duty during the escape of 10 detainees from the Mandaluyong City jail Tuesday afternoon may face charges if found to have been negligent, Senior Superintendent Armando Bolalin, Mandaluyong police chief said Wednesday.

He said an investigation was now being conducted to determine possible liabilities of Chief Inspector Numeriano Gabuya, chief of the criminal investigation unit, and Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Julius Piñera,  PO2 Julius Payoyo and PO2 Dante Alariao.

“If proven of negligence, they may face administrative and, or even criminal charges,” Bolalin said in a phone interview.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel has ordered their administrative relief.

The jailbreak was discovered Tuesday afternoon when authorities noticed that a portion of the steel bars were destroyed.

One of the 10 detainees, identified as Valentino Bianan, however, surrendered to police past midnight Wednesday.

Bolalin quoted Bianan as saying that the mastermind in the escape plan was Rolando Palmenco a.k.a Lupin.

He said that Palmenco’s group had been sawing off the steel bars before they found a chance to finally escape.

“Pero hindi daw niya alam kung nasaan yung mga kasamahan niyang tumakas,” Bolalin said.

Tracker teams have been deployed to conduct a manhunt for the nine other inmates, he said.