IRC eskapo captured

By Florence F. Hibionada

Sufficencia

It is finally back to barracks for one of Iloilo's notorious figures, murder suspect and longtime fugitive Jerry Sufficencia.

This, after yesterday's (Monday) arrest made by government agents in a joint operation that got the said subject in a house owned by a barangay captain of San Enrique town.

Sufficencia's capture came exactly a year and a day since last year's daring escape from his cell at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) annex building. His dash for freedom then placed ret. P/Supt. Juan Mabugat, IRC warden and the entire IRC management in 'hot water' in a jailbreak that generated adverse media attacks for weeks.

The News Today (TNT) learned from IRC insiders that since then, numerous police and IRC manhunt operations were made with the closest break almost realized in one barangay of Dumarao, Capiz. Reports said Sufficencia was in said area for a robbery-hold-up plan. No further details nor confirmation was readily available on the matter.

The said fugitive marked his third month in San Enrique as the hired farm help of Eprog Barangay Captain Wilfredo Gardino. He introduced himself and is known in the barangay as "Dodong." In an interview over Bombo Radyo, Gardino said Sufficencia has proven himself to be trustworthy and showed no signs being an outlaw. In fact, he easily became a dependable and useful member of the Gardino family and was not in any trouble with the barangay folks. His arrest came as a shock to the barangay captain who added that had he known of the circumstances surrounding Sufficencia's brush with the law, he would have worked for his earlier surrender.

PG2 Dominador Grajales led the 7-man IRC team who worked on the San Enrique operation alongside the operatives of the San Enrique Police Office. The joint forces jumped off about 2am and surrounded the Gardino residence until the 5am capture. Sufficencia did not resist arrest and was immediately transported back to the city where he was turned-over to Supt. Mabugat.

He stands accused of murder, attempted murder and frustrated homicide charges.