DEPUTY Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “disappointed” and “unhappy” over the escape of a suspect in the Maguindanao massacre in a Sultan Kudarat jail last Wednesday.
Saludo said local police and jail authorities should have learned from previous escape incidents in other areas.
He added that authorities should have continuously reviewed their security procedures and ensure that high-level suspects are detained in well secured areas to prevent escape or prevent access from those who might spring them out from jail.
“I’m sure she (Arroyo) is disappointed or unhappy about it, although she has not indicated to us any comment about it yet. What is important here is for the law enforcement authorities, as they are already doing, to hunt down the suspect but more important for them to review the security procedures in their jails,” he said.
Saludo said the country had its share of “unfortunate” escapes and breakouts over years which should have though authorities to regularly “review and continually strengthen the security procedures in their jails”.
He said actions should have likewise been taken against anyone who maybe lax in their duties or security.
“They should have learned, I’m not saying they have not learned, they may have taken measures in several of the other places where there had been breakouts. But perhaps they need to look beyond and see other places as well where there might not have been any escapes, but they have high security, high value, detainees,” he added.
Saludo also branded as speculation reports that the escape might have occurred because authorities were busy with the visit of President in Lambayong in Sultan Kudarat Wednesday morning where she visited Lambayong National High School.
“This is speculation, I’m sure that they’re looking into the reasons for it. This is one of the usual speculative remarks, we’ll just leave the investigating authorities to really pin down the reason,” he said.
Retired police Superintendent Piang Adam, one of the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre reportedly escaped from the Sultan Kudarat provincial jail Wednesday after the padlock on the door to his detention cell was broken.
Adam was among those charged for the killing of 57 people, including 31 journalists, in Ampatuan in Maguindanao on November 23, 2010. He was also charged with falsification of public documents, and malversation of public funds before the Department of Justice (DOJ). (JMR/Sunnex)