Escapee’s freedom lasts 5 hours

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

TAKING advantage of the downpour, a 19-year-old inmate escaped from the Cebu City Jail past 4 a.m. yesterday.

More than five hours later, Francisco Libradilla was recaptured after he was found hiding under a bridge near the South Road Properties in Barangay Mambaling.

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Yesterday’s incident, however, may likely jeopardize the plan of Mayor Michael Rama to reinstate the allowances of the guards at the city jail.

While he already announced the reinstatement of the allowances of the Cebu City jail guards, Rama yesterday said he is now having second thoughts.

Rama told reporters he already talked to the Cebu City Jail officials and told them he will reinstate their allowances.

“I told them to give me your program and give me an assurance,” said Rama.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña, the former mayor, canceled the allowances of Cebu City jail guards following reports of drug trafficking, food subsidy kickbacks and special treatment of some inmates.

City Jail Warden Felixberto Jagorin, in an interview with reporters, said he placed Libradilla in an isolation cell to keep him away from angry fellow detainees.

Because of the incident, Jagorin said, the privileges of all the detainees have been cancelled.

Investigation

Libradilla, who is facing a robbery case, was committed at the city jail last Jan. 26.
JO1 Bryan Adam Cadosali, who was detailed at the Tower 5 where Libradilla passed through, is also facing an administrative investigation.

Jagorin said Libradilla escaped at 4:30 a.m. by sneaking through the third-floor ceiling of the jail’s main building.

From there, he jumped to the new building and ran toward Tower 5. Liradilla reportedly leaped from the tower to the ground, which is about 10 to 12 feet high.

Upon seeing Libradilla, JO1 Cadosali fired several warning shots and rang the bell to alert the other guards.

Cadosali also jumped from the tower and chased Libradilla.

Jagorin said he immediately formed three teams, who were tasked to conduct the manhunt.

One of the teams led by Chief Insp. Dennis Aliño found Libradilla in Mambaling.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 17, 2011.