'Mental' fugitive still at large
Warden Mabugat orders extensive search

By Florence F. Hibionada

A detainee of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) long subject of regular “psych check-ups” remains unaccounted following his easy escape early Monday morning.  Accused of frustrated murder, 23 year-old Joseph Jutay is a native of Guimbal, Iloilo and has since been in IRC detention for about a year now.

The infamous escape has caused anew questions on the IRC administration under Supt. Juan Mabugat yet insiders were quick to add that appropriate response measures were employed as soon as management was alerted of the incident.  A team of IRC guards has been dispatched by the said warden to conduct the manhunt while an alarm has been sounded off on his escape. 

Jutay was brought by IRC authorities to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) concerned over his days of restlessness and poor appetite.  He has been in confinement and was “under observation” for ten days at the WVMC until the discovery of his escape.

IRC insiders reached by The News Today said the fugitive detainee was assigned a cell in the main building but of late was allowed space in the IRC's Tilipunan center.

He would appear normal in days but would show signs of unusual behavior in between that prompted the psychiatric help.  Yet no official confirmation of his mental state has been released with rousing speculations that such could possibly be used an alibi for the frustrated murder he was charged.

Questions were also raised on how Jutay made good of his escape from the WVMC with both chains on his left foot and the handcuffs still on.  Radio reports said that the prison guard on duty apparently failed to stop the escapee after briefly leaving his post.  Similar contentions with the hospital security who also missed seeing the fugitive patient.