Inmate killed in escape try
Bullets riddled the body of an inmate at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) following an escape try Saturday noon.
With a warning shot first made by Provincial Guard (PG) II George Beloria, inmate Dante Joaquin laid lifeless and bloodied seconds thereafter, just a few feet short of 'freedom.' This, after at least two jail guards by the second floor responded and positioned themselves for a clear shot of any body who would exit the building.
A native of Pavia, Iloilo, Joaquin came out of the main building and refused to stop despite verbal orders from jail guards. Yet to be identified security on duty then decided to shoot with the escapee sprayed upon using their service armalite rifles.
Sources from inside of the IRC told The News Today (TNT) that Joaquin made the sudden dash for freedom while other inmates where having lunch at the mess hall. He was believed to be suffering from a mental disorder and observed to be "extremely quiet" whole day of Friday.
Jail warden, retired Police Senior Superintendent Juan Mabugat described Joaquin to be a loner who kept to himself for the most part of his IRC stay. He was not known to be involved with previous IRC riots and jailbreak nor an associate of the more notorious jail personalities.
Joaquin has been in IRC detention for two years now over Frustrated Homicide, Homicide and Attempted Homicide charges.
Within seconds after the crime scene was cleared, Mabugat ordered the escapee brought to the Pototan District Hospital where attending physicians declared him Dead on Arrival (DOA). He sustained some nine gunshot wounds on the right side of his body.
Meantime, it was 'business' as usual inside the IRC with the warden strengthening anew security measures to foil similar escape-attempts in the future.
In an interview, Mabugat told Bombo Radyo that any or all investigation is welcomed relative to Saturday's incident while saying that what his guards did were within the 'standard operating procedure' of jail management.