4 more inmates in QCPD New Year’s eve jailbreak recaptured

MANILA, Philippines—Four more inmates who escaped from the Quezon City Police District’s Cubao Police Station on New Year’s eve have been arrested by the police, leaving policemen with 11 more escapees to hunt down.

QCPD Director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said theft suspect Rigor Alejandria, 30, was recaptured in Barangay (village) Camachile while Thomas Evan Labutong, facing charges for possessing illegal firearms, was collared in Barangay Kaunlaran.

The same day the inmates escaped, 18-year-old Benedicto Guinto was recaptured shortly after Robert Lacaba, a 25-year-old arrested for alarm and scandal, was surrendered by his mother to the police on Wednesday.

Pagdilao said John Patrick Dionido, a suspect for rape and robbery and holdup, also turned himself in to the authorities.

The jailbreak prompted Pagdilao to relieve the station commander, Superintendent Wilson de los Santos, of his post for serious neglect of duty and infidelity in the custody of detainees.

On Wednesday, sixteen of the 53 detainees bolted the station before dawn after they sawed off steel bars which served as next barrier after the ceiling. The inmates managed to escape as desk officer SPO1 Jade Gavina was in the toilet.

Police tracker teams are still hunting down 11 more escaped detainees: John Sicat, 30 (charged with physical injuries); Miguel Glino, 22; Rene Flores, 31; Jeremy Llena, 25; Dennis Natividad, 27; Roberto Valdez, 30; Roland Araneta, 18; Wilmar Morales, 38; CJ Nuque, 19 (robbery); Emerson Castro, 20 (frustrated homicide); and Alvin Lorensaga, 27 (estafa).