The News Today Online

Wanted IRC fugitive 'recaptured', probe on negligent guards still on

By Florence F. Hibionada

They lost him for three nights and two days and now they got him back. 'Recaptured' the subject may have been, yet for retired Police Senior Supt. Juan Mabugat, warden of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC), five jail guards remain in 'hot water' and their troubles far from over courtesy of the 'escape' of a murder suspect in IRC custody.

Turned out now, the supposed jailbreak was halfway realized with said inmate technically within the jail premises particularly inside a sewage by the jail's kitchen dumpster.

Center of the guards' woes is Prisoner 40770 Joemarie 'Mini' Ortiz Desilao who marked his 5th year in IRC detention. Of late, the 23 year-old inmate managed to earn the trust and confidence of Provincial Guard (PG) II Samuel Sollesta thus earning him the 'privilege' of serving as personal assistant. Yet Sunday's incident proved Sollesta wrong with his late afternoon shower turning into an opportunity for a jailbreak.

For days since the reported escape, Senior Supt. Mabugat fielded his men to three Iloilo towns as city and provincial police augmented the manhunt operation. Flash alarms were immediately sent out to various police offices throughout the province while bus terminals and sea ports were alerted.

'Armed and dangerous,' the 'escaped' murder suspect was even tagged as family members assured the warden of cooperation and surrender of Desilao should he surface and seek refuge.

All was to end Wednesday morning when a utility man noticed someone by the sewage, apparently asleep. The IRC was immediately cordoned off as guards on duty rushed to secure the area. Senior Supt. Mabugat was informed as efforts began to effect a surrender.

The News Today (TNT) gathered that warning shots were fired yet the 'sewage man' failed to heed the call thus forcing them to shoot. When finally subdued, an unresponsive Desilao was rushed to a government hospital as the missing .45 caliber pistol owned by PG II Sollesta laid nearby.

'Nothing has changed and will change. The investigation will be pursued and liabilities of the provincial guards will be determined,' Mabugat said when reached by TNT.

As such, PGII Sollesta will have to face probers alongside PG II Rodolfo Picara, PGII Rodolfo Abordo, PGII Herber Piola and PGII Noel Villavicenco.

The four guards were included in the investigation after failing to stop Desilao from exiting the annex building that they were supposed to secure. Information disclosed that all four were watching television that practically left the area unwatched.

Yet the most liable is PGII Sollesta, Senior Supt. Mabugat said that had him issue an earlier statement, 'it's either him or me,' who will have to leave the IRC stint.