Detained slay suspect flees; 2 cops relieved

TWO POLICEMEN were relieved from their posts after the suspect in the killing of their colleague managed to escape while in their custody Thursday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario, Taguig City chief of police, said he ordered the immediate relief of PO1 Danilo Vega and PO1 Joseph Ventura, the policemen assigned to watch over Michael Manansala at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

Manansala had been  tagged as the suspect in the killing of PO1 Venerando Pantino last June 15.

The suspect, together , with a companion, engaged Pantino in a shoot-out after they tried to rob an eatery owned by the victim’s  in-laws.

Until around noon last Thursday, Manansala had been confined at the hospital for multiple gunshot wounds.

Apolinario said they were still investigating how Manansala managed to escape.

Police said that a witness had seen Manansala riding a motorcycle driven by an unidentified  man.

The city police chief said  Vega and Ventura are  already undergoing an investigation.

“They will be facing criminal and administrative charges if  the investigation proves that there was negligence on their part,” Apolinario said.

Suspects under hospital confinement are guarded by policemen working on shifts 24/7, he added.

“Vega and Ventura have  also been  restricted to the station while the probe is ongoing,” said Apolinario.

The two policemen were also asked to surrender their firearms.