AN ADMINISTRATIVE complaint was already filed against the two police station commanders in Bacolod City following the escape of their detainees from their custodial facilities last month.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said Tuesday, February 25, the administrative complaint against Major Ruel Culanag, former chief of Police Station 3, and Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, chief of Police Station 9, was already forwarded to the Police Regional Office- Western Visayas.
He said Culanag was already relieved from his post following the escape of four detainees from their custodial facility on January 6. He was reassigned to BCPO Headquarters and in “floating status.”
He added Pastrana is still the chief of Police Station 9 while waiting the directive from Police Regional Office-6.
Pico noted that the two station commanders were charged administratively because of their command responsibility.
On January 6, the four detainees of Police Station 3 identified as Sunny Capa; Ely Lorence Sazon, 22, of Barangay 3; Michael Penoso, 25, of Barangay 2, all facing charges for violation of illegal drugs; and Jeffrey Elangos, 38, of Barangay Banago, who is facing child abuse charges, escaped by cutting off the iron bar of the custodial facility in Barangay Mandalagan.
The following day, all of them voluntarily surrendered to authorities and they were already turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
On January 17, Gabriel Libo-on, 29, of Purok Nami-Nami 1, Barangay Sum-ag, a detainee of Police Station 9 who was charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, also escaped by using unidentified metal to open the padlock of the custodial facility. He also voluntarily surrendered.
Pico said criminal and administrative complaints were also filed against the desk and jail officers of Police Station 3 as well as jail officer of Police Station 9. (MAP)