Quezon City Representative Jorge Banal. congress.gov.ph photo
MANILA, Philippines—One of three detainees who escaped from the Kamuning police station on Monday turned himself in to a Quezon City congressman, saying it was never his intention to flee.
Jedi San Luis, 22, said he was suffering from sore eyes and a fever when the jailbreak happened before dawn Monday.
“He claimed he was just pulled by the other detainees fighting their way out,” said Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal.
The detainee, a drug suspect, surrendered himself at Banal’s office at the House of Representatives at around 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., Kamuning police station commander, said they are still looking for the two other escapees, Ruel Dantes and Jestoni Tributo.
San Luis was turned over to Pedrozo, Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega of the Quezon City Police District and Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina of the National Capital Region Police Office at around 10:30 a.m.
Banal said the suspect sent surrender feelers as early as Monday morning, or hours after escaping.
It was San Luis’ aunt, a member of the Barangay (village) Tagumpay council in Banal’s district who contacted the lawmaker about surrendering the suspect.
Recalling his conversation with the suspect, Banal said the detainee was down with a fever because of an eye infection. Reality hit San Luis and he soon realized the gravity of what he had done, leading to his surrender, Banal said.
Banal said Pedrozo assured him that the suspect will not be harmed and will undergo due process.
In a separate interview, Pedrozo said San Luis also underwent a medical examination after he was turned over to police.
Dantes and Tributo, who are still at large, are both robbery suspects while San Luis was being detained for drug possession.
According to Banal, San Luis had a brother with him in detention but did not join the jailbreak.
The three suspects were able to escape when the desk officer was ushering a new inmate into the cell, pushing their way out during the commotion.
The desk officer, Senior Police Officer 1 Chester Ticobay, has been relieved and is undergoing investigation.