Thursday, October 20, 2005

Warden, Guards Get Reprimanded For Escape Of Two Detainees

By: Boy Ryan B. Zabal

The committee investigating the escape of two detainees at the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC) recommended that the jail warden and five jail guards on duty at the time of the incident be reprimanded.
Still at large and considered “armed and dangerous,” Gary Sultan and Zaldy Macaslang escaped on the night of June 29, 2005 from the ARC in Brgy. Nalook, Kalibo. They also injured three jail guards.
In a report, former RTC Judge Maria Carillo Zaldivar – committee head – recommended to Gov. Carlito S. Marquez that jail warden Supt. Cristito Angob and the jail guards on duty be reprimanded under the “theory of command responsibility.”
On the night of the escape, there were five jail guards on duty. Three had firearms. Supt. Angob and his deputy were not around.
While ARC helper Francisco Haquero was busy opening lock-up cell No.3 to bring in a new inmate, Sultan and Macaslang suddenly ran outside. They simultaneously shot PG1 Ramie Fernandez and casual guards Raul Silverio and Edgar Bonifacio.
Silverio, who had with him a long firearm, was a little further left away behind the two guards.
Haguero immediately shouted for help. The injured Bonifacio still managed to run towards the gate where he met PG1 Ebwin Icay.
Icay was in the guardhouse near the main gate and PG1 Hegino Merin was posted at the back of the cells at the time of the incident.
Fernandez was hit on his left arm and back while Silverio sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his abdomen. They were brought to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Bonifacio was also rushed to the hospital.
The suspects, all natives of Mindanao, face charges for selling illegal drugs.

‘NO CONCRETE PROOF’

Zaldivar said the ARC needs repairs for better administration of prisoners detained. It also determined that “no responsible officer was sleeping inside the rehabilitation center when the jail break happened.”
It was learned that there were 11 short firearms issued by the province directly to the guards, and that the jail administrator allowed guards to carry their firearms even during their off duties.
The investigating committee found “no concrete proof that the firearms, allegedly used by the suspects, were smuggled in at a definite time and date to pinpoint the guards who may be responsible.”
The committee recommended the repair of the perimeter walls and provide it with lights, procure additional firearms, conduct trainings among the jail guards and prohibit guards and inmates from bringing in drinking alcoholic drinks inside the rehabilitation center. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

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