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Thursday, October 26, 2006
Cop in drug list flees from police office
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- One of the two Davao City policemen restricted to the Davao City Police Office on suspicion that he was involved in the illegal drug trade fled from the place.
City Police Director Catalino Cuy said PO3 Arnold Dechavez escaped at around 1 a.m. Wednesday when there was a "changing of guard."
He said Dechavez took advantage of the change in guards and escaped by scaling the concrete fence at the back of the police compound. Police believed that someone was waiting for Dechavez outside the facility.
Cuy said an investigation of the incident is ongoing.
He said four cops were assigned to secure Dechavez and his fellow accused, PO3 Enrique Ayao. Cuy however did not identify the four police personnel.
"We are investigating if there were lapses on the part of the guards especially the two guards detailed in the lobby. I think they were just too confident that he (PO3 Dechavez) won't escape," added Cuy.
He said Dechavez's escape could hasten proceedings to have him discharged from the force.
"His escape is considered Awol (absence without official leave)," Cuy said.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was immediately informed about Dechavez's escape.
The mayor reportedly ordered Cuy to immediately go after and arrest Dechavez.
In an interview, Duterte sounded nonchalant about the escape or disappearance, saying they don't have anything to hold Dechavez with since there is no case filed against him.
"He (PO3 Dechavez) will surface, if not he will be on Awol," Duterte said.
Duterte admitted he was the reason why a criminal charge wasn't immediately filed against the policemen as he ordered the revision of the complaint prepared by the lawyers.
Duterte ordered the arrest of Dechavez and Ayao, after finding sufficient evidence to file charges against them for their involvement in illegal drugs and other criminal acts.
The charges against the two, however, have yet to be filed.
Duterte said last week that charges would be filed on Monday, but this did not push through.
Aside from their involvement in illegal drugs, the two policemen are allegedly being tagged in a rape case as well.
The two were not jailed but merely restricted to the police office.
Ayao, when asked to comment on the escape of his co-accused, said, "I was not privy to his plans." (With RCO and Peng Aliño)
(October 26, 2006 issue)
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