Inmate escapes while under hospital arrest

Sunday, February 12, 2012

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Authorities in North Cotabato launched a manhunt against an inmate who escaped while being treated at a government-owned hospital around 3 a.m. Sunday, a jail officer said.

Chief Inspector R Herna, warden of the North Cotabato Rehabilitation Center, identified the fugitive as Randy Ugad, a former Army soldier who is charged with frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

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Ugad was placed under hospital arrest based on an order issued by a local court due to a gunshot wound he sustained after he figured in a shooting incident last February 8 in Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato.

Herna said at least four unidentified armed men helped Ugad escaped from the hospital.

The escape was captured on a closed-circuit television (CCTV), the warden said.

These men, all armed with caliber 45 pistols, poked their guns on the three jail guards assigned at the hospital, including the hospital’s security men, while they carried Ugad out of his bed and brought him to a car parked outside.

A female watcher, believed to be Ugad’s wife, also joined them in their escape, reports said.

One of the security guards told the jail warden that he saw one of the armed men arrived at the hospital around 10 p.m. on Saturday.

"We already have their photos taken from the CCTV. The next thing we’ll do is identify these people while our manhunt against (Randy) Ugad is ongoing," said Herna.

He stressed the escape has long been planned by Ugad through help from his wife and his cohorts.