2 IRC fugitives still missing
Two murder suspects who bolted detention at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) for some two weeks now remain scot-free amidst growing fears that the duo has left the province.
The Iloilo Provincial Government has since set a P30,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of each of the fugitive. To date, with at least three IRC teams deployed all over Iloilo and backed up by police operatives from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO), no takers, no solid tips for the reward money and the escapees.
Still considered armed and dangerous with an earlier order from IRC warden Juan Mabugat to get the escapees “dead or alive,” the warning for the public remains against 26 year-old Mario Lozada of Ipil, Calinog, Iloilo who faces double murder charge and ‘mayor the mayores,’ 32 year-old Vincent Espinosa of Lemery, Iloilo also in for a murder case now pending before Branch 66 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
46 year-old Mamerto Barranco of Januiay, Iloilo also another murder suspect was with the two in the February 13th escape but surrendered the other week. He said he was just “forced” to join Espinosa and Lozada heightened by his desire to see his family.
Earlier tips from intelligence sources out on the continued manhunt placed the trio still within the province with the warden confirming that ‘special attention’ was given to three Iloilo towns, Pototan, Zarraga and Dumangas. Mabugat opted not to further elaborate on said information.
Meantime, the fate of 16 jail guards on duty during the infamous escape hangs with the probe results on the supposed “in-house investigation” yet to be known. Mabugat then said an “elimination process” was made to determine those to be held most liable.
This, as Mabugat insists that it was human error and not the multi-million building itself that brought the easy escape.
An order was then issued to temporarily suspend the rights and privileges of the eleven inmates who were also in cell 58 that escapee Espinosa leads.
No more rights to visit, right to sunning and all other activities “until further notice,” the suspension order went as issued by the warden. It was not immediately clear if such has been lifted.
To recall, the jailbreak was discovered after a 4 a.m. headcount with the trio unaccounted for by jail guards inside cell of the IRC’s Area 4 in the second floor.
Initial investigation point to a guitar string that was supposedly used to finely cut through a prison bar of the cell’s window.
Board Member Angelo Briones, chair of the Capitol’s Committee on Public Order and Security made an ocular inspection of the jail premises where he expressed surprise and wonder on the manner of the escape particularly with the supposed escape route appearing to be “nearly impossible” for anyone to go through.
“We will evaluate everything and find out what really happened here,” he told reporters present for the inspection.
Briones for his part echoed appeals for the escapees’ surrender saying “the sooner the better for everybody but especially for them, the fugitives.”
IRC is home to over 1,000 inmates facing drug charges, rape, murder and kidnapping for ransom cases.
Majority of those reached by The News Today for reaction expressed disgust on what happened particularly since extra security also meant “unscheduled” adjustments to over-all in-house jail security.
While only the trio’s cellmates faced specific suspension of “rights,” the inmates similarly said the escape fired anew the mistrust between them and the jail guards.
If and when captured, the escapees will have to be separated from the rest, both as sanction and protection from fellow inmates angered by the escape.