BuCor to mull probe on Wagas escorts

SIX jail guards who were assigned as security escorts for former Compostela mayor Gilbert Wagas during his court hearings in Cebu may face investigation.

According to the initial inquiry of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), there were inconsistencies in the claims of the jail guards on the whereabouts of Wagas who was scheduled to attend court hearings from April 5 to May 13 in Cebu.

There were two sets of jail guards who escorted Wagas.  Jail guards Rex Dampil, Eduardo Barra, Felipe Gomez were assigned as his escorts during the scheduled court hearings from April 6 to April 13.

Jail guards Oliver Momo, Pablito Yap and Felipe Gomez were later assigned to Wagas for the scheduled court hearings from May 3 to 13.

Prison guard Ernald Delgado was escort-in-charge during the two separate hearings in April and May.

According to the accounts of the jail guards, Wagas was confined at the Visayas Community Medical Center in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, from April 4 to April 8.

Wagas was escorted to attend his court hearings from April 6 to 7 at MTCC Cebu City Branch 3 and on April 13 at RTC Bogo, Cebu Branch 6.

A medical certificate was issued by Dr. Norman Santos for proof that he was indeed admitted to the said hospital.

On May 2, Wagas was again in Cebu to attend court hearings.

He was allegedly brought to the same hospital on May 2 to 4. Santos also issued the medical certificate at the time.

Both medical certificates in April and May were dated May 16 and issued by Dr. Santos.

Santos was Wagas’ medical doctor.  Last May 4, the jail guards said Wagas was moved out of the Mandaue City Jail and transferred to Bogo City Jail.

Wagas was brought out of the jail again and confined at the Bogo-Medillen Medical Center from May 5 to 10.

Last May 9, he attended his scheduled hearing at RTC Branch 61 in Bogo City.

Last May 10, Wagas was brought to Cebu City Jail and transferred afterwards to the Visayas Community Medical Center.

The jail guards claimed that he was confined there from May 10 to 15.

He was also escorted to attend his hearings on May 11 and May 13 at Municipal Trial Circut Courts (MTCC) Branch 3 in Cebu City.

When asked about where the jail guards stayed during these dates when Wagas was confined the other five said they stayed at a small hotel on both trips.

When they were asked where they were in between the hearings, the guards said they stayed in their billeting areas. Only Delgado stayed with his relatives.

Based on these accounts, the bureau said they will determine whether the six jail guards will face investigations for any ‘breach of procedures.”

Authenticity of the subpoenas of all his court hearings will also be verified.

The six jail guards were reassigned to other jail facilities. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus