IRC guard in inmate's escape faces axe
The probe is on as the manhunt widens on wanted fugitive, Joemarie 'Mini' Ortiz Desilao following Sunday's escape from the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC).
With non-stop operations led by the IRC and augmented by elements of the city and provincial police, the 23 year-old murder suspect now faces bigger legal woes for the solo jailbreak. Added to his liability for bolting detention are the charges awaiting him for taking the licensed firearm of Provincial Guard II Samuel Sollesta, a .45 caliber pistol.
Yet Sollesta has more than just said lost firearm to worry. With the investigation underway, retired Police Senior Supt. Juan Mabugat, IRC warden, told The News Today (TNT) he is bent on ending the IRC stint of Sollesta. Two escapes under his watch are more than enough, Mabugat added while saying that 'it's either him or me.'
To recall, it was also under Sollesta's watch that another inmate, Jerry Sufficencia bolted out of the IRC in July 2004.
The latest infamous escape happened in the favored escape route of the IRC, the back part of the annex building by the tower. And it's human error, the warden pointed out with multi-layered defense system of the center failing blamed by Mabugat principally on Sollesta and four other provincial guards on duty.
'Based on the initial investigation, it was clearly stupidity and not a lapse of judgment. We are aware of the inmates' constant desire to flee and with the opportunity presented by the situation, naturally Desilao grabbed it. I don't think there was outside help nor was the escape planned too. What happened was that Desilao had his desire paired off with the opportunity so he made good of his escape,' he said in a TNT interview.
The escape was estimated to have occurred early Sunday evening. Sollesta apparently got the escapee out of the 'Cell Y' to serve as his personal assistant. A practice that has since been allegedly done by the provincial guard, Senior Supt. Mabugat clarified though that it was only after this Sunday's episode that he was told of the matter.
'Sollesta had Desilao carry his clothes and other things for his shower. Then he left his licensed firearm and it was during that time that Desilao got it, proceeded towards his escape route. The four guards tasked to man the annex building were all watching television and the tower was clear as well because it was Sollesta who was supposed to be on duty. Altogether, it must have taken Desilao a total of 30 minutes to execute his escape. We were told of one civilian informant that one man flagged down a taxi at the estimated time of the escape so we believe that's how he managed to successfully flee,' Mabugat continued.
The investigation as now sought by Mabugat was made to Sollesta and the other guards on duty.
'I think two weeks is more than enough. This time, he (Sollesta) will not stay longer at the IRC. I asked for an investigator coming from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) to help us out on this,' he said.
Other than PGII Sollesta, four guards facing probe are PGII Rodolfo Picara, PGII Rodolfo Abordo, PGII Herber Piola and PGII Noel Villavicencio.
Thus far, the manhunt has led the IRC team to scout Desilao's hometown in Anilao, Barotac Nuevo and Pototan. All operations yielded negative results with the escapee's parents meeting Mabugat and ensure full cooperation or surrender of their fugitive son in the event he seeks solace in the family.
As of press time, flash alarms remain on various police offices throughout Iloilo with ports and bus terminals secured.
Desilao faces murder charges alongside his brother and cousin who remain in IRC custody. A warning is out on the public with the escapee tagged 'armed and dangerous.'