Friday, March 07, 2008 Minglanilla police chief to be relieved By Jovy S. Taghoy Sun.Star Staff Reporter With Dennes R. Tabar
USING only the handle of a broom, five detainees escaped from a police detention cell in Minglanilla, Cebu last Wednesday night.
Because of the incident, Senior Insp. Romeo Santander, Minglanilla Police Station chief, is expected to be relieved from his post as part of procedures earlier announced by Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria.
Santander, whose relief will take effect after Holy Week, will be the first police station chief affected by Valmoria’s memorandum last month that imposed a “one-strike policy” when it comes to escapes.
The four other policemen on duty during the escape will also be transferred from Minglanilla.
Valmoria issued the order following two escapes in Consolacion and San Fernando last month.
In Minglanilla’s case, the detainees fled past 11 p.m. Wednesday by boring a hole in the detention cell’s comfort room, using a broom handle.
The concrete wall of the comfort room was weak, making it easy for the detainees to destroy a portion of it.
Four of the detainees were identified as John Mark Secuya, Marice Tan Tampong, Stephen Tan and Felipe Largo, who are all facing theft cases.
The fifth detainee is Carlos Sabalones, who is related to Minglanilla Councilor Ramsey Sayson. He was entrusted to the custody of the police for allegedly using illegal drugs.
On duty
Two other detainees decided to stay behind. The detention cell sits beside the police station.
Police recaptured Secuya and Tan on Escario St., Cebu City in a follow-up operation.
P01 Rodolfo Quilala Jr., who served as a jailer and radio operator at the same time, PO3 Reynaldo Binatero, P03 Allen Garciano and P02 Avelino Selloria were the personnel on duty when the detainees bolted.
The police reportedly failed to hear the detainees when they dug the hole on the wall, because the latter were singing.
“Wala mabantayi kay while nagbuak sila sige sila’g kanta-kanta para dili madungog ba (They sang to keep the police from hearing their blows on the wall),” Santander said.
PO1 Quilala said he failed to notice the detainees because he was busy writing notes from a radio communication.
Director Valmoria, in a separate interview, said that Santander will be relieved from his post.
The order, however, will take effect after the Holy Week celebration, considering that Minglanilla draws large crowds for its “Sugat” on Easter Sunday and will require tight security.
Valmoria added that Santander was one of the police station chiefs that performed well on the job.
Santander, on the other hand, said that “as a good soldier” he will follow Valmoria’s order relieving him from the post.
