'Just surrender,' Briones calls on escapees as 7-day 'deadline' pushed on fugitives' capture
A total of 15 jail guards of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) are in 'hot water' over yesterday's (Tuesday) jailbreak that had the easy escape of three murder suspects.
As such, Board Member Angelo Briones, chairman of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan's (SP) Committee on Public Order and Security called for the immediate investigation of the incident. Foremost that should be resolved, according to Briones, is whether there was failure in jail security or failure in the building design to achieve the needed security or both.
If jail guards are to be blamed, Briones would want to see serious sanctions imposed including dismissal from service. If it is the P70 million building that made the escape too easy, Briones wants the experts from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to come in and advise the Capitol to come up with 'remedial' measures.
This, as information was relayed to said board member that the tool used to "finely" cut through the prison bar was a guitar string.
"Regardless of what it is, we need to urgently address this breach of security," Briones told The News Today (TNT).
The jail guards on duty now subject of in-house probe ordered by retired Police Senior Superintendent Juan Mabugat, IRC warden were identified as Provincial Guard (PG) 2 Dominador Grajales as Officer of the Day, PG 2 Danilo Suede, PG 2 Winifredo. Acojeda, PG 2.Rommel Aviador, PG 2 Jorge Viloria PG 2 Baltazar Gumban Jr., PG 2 Joseph Renante Catedral. PG2 Nonilon Tamorite, PG2 Johnny Chiva, PG2 Antonio Baitan Jr., PG2 Rommel Pasquin, PG2 Emmanuel Guardialao, PG2 Felix Barotolome, PG2 Daniel Lauresta and PG2 Noel Crucero.
Alongside the investigation called by Briones was his appeal to the escapees to surrender while assuring of their safety once back inside the IRC. Yet another plea to the family and friends to stay away and not even think of "harboring the criminals." The public is also warned to keep watch of the three fugitives and report any sightings to the local police.
"And I want to see results within the week or even less," Briones ended referring to the ongoing manhunt of the three IRC teams deployed with the back up forces provided by provincial police operatives.
Governor Niel Tupas Sr. upon knowing of the jailbreak immediately ordered a massive manhunt of the escapees while he directed IRC warden Juan Mabugat to determine the jail guards who could be liable for the escape.