CRC warden, top jail guard sacked for inmate’s escape
ROXAS CITY – The warden of Capiz Rehabilitation Center and a senior jail guard were placed under preventive suspension for not more than 90 days for the escape of drug inmate Sulpicio Marcelino Sr. last September 24.
Provincial Administrator Jose Villanueva, concurrent provincial legal counsel, said CRC warden Arjuna Yncong and Provincial Jail Guard 2 Rudy Sereneo have been suspended effective October 13 so they could not influence the ongoing investigation.
Villanueva said jail guard Surab Dumali was appointed officer-in-charge of CRC.
Gov. Victor Tanco Sr. issued an inter-office memo to Yngcong and Sereneo imposing a partial suspension on them while waiting for the investigation on whether they committed neglect or misconduct of duty during the jail break.
Villanueva said that if found guilty, they will face dismissal from the service.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority 6 will also conduct a separate investigation on the inmate’s escape.
Villanueva said the PDEA will deal with the criminal charges while the province, the administrative side.
Earlier, Yngcong recommended a one-month suspension and forfeiture of salaries of the five jail guards involved in Marcelino’s escape – Ruben Borlado, Ernesto Gonzales, Danilo Peniano, Reynaldo Asis, and Celso Valencia, all ranked Provincial Guards 1.
However, Villanueva said the five jail guards were not suspended to avoid jeopardizing security measures at CRC but he said that he is also studying their suspension.
Yngcong had earlier said that as human beings, the jail guards on duty committed lapses.
The CRC is reportedly undermanned. The standard jail guard to inmates ratio is, 1 is to 7. At CRC, however, it becomes 1:12 because there are only 12 jail guards watching 152 prisoners.
Tanco had earlier said he will give a reward of P50,000 to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of Marcelino, who is facing two cases for illegal drug pushing before the Regional Trial Court Branch 18.*
