THREE persons under police custody (PUPCs) inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame were killed on Sunday, October 9, 2022, following their attempt to escape and hostage detained former senator Leila de Lima.
In an initial report, the police identified the three PUPCs as Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan and Feliciano Sulayao.
It stated that around 6:20 a.m., while breakfast was being distributed to the PUPCs inside the facility, the three grabbed Corporal Roger Agustin and stabbed him in the head and body.
Patrolman Lorenz Matias immediately responded and shot the three.
Cabinto and Susukan were killed on the spot while Sulayao fled towards the cell of De Lima and tried to hold her hostage.
The incident “ended” around 7:18 a.m.
In a radio interview, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said police contained the situation and De Lima was unharmed.
“Safe naman, hindi na gaano nasaktan si Senator De Lima. So pinapa-checkup na po natin si Senator De Lima kung ano kalagayan niya, but definitely she is safe. Na-contain po natin at naresolba po natin ng mabilis po ‘yung nangyaring insidente sa loob ng custodial sa Crame,” he said.
(She's safe, Senator De Lima wasn't hurt. We are having Senator De Lima checked up, but she is definitely safe. We contained and quickly resolved the incident that happened inside the custodial center in Crame.)
“Hindi naman po siguro (si Senator De Lima ang puntirya) kasi parang nagkataon siguro na nandun si Senator De Lima. Nakita nila na ito ‘yung magandang cover kasi kung ang puntirya po nila si Senator De Lima, e, siguro hindi na ho nila hinintay ang pulis. Ang intention naman na nakikita ko diyan, they really want to escape,” he added.
Senator De Lima was not their target because it seems like it was a coincidence that Senator De Lima was there. They saw that this was a good cover because if Senator De Lima was their target, maybe they wouldn't have waited for the police. They really just wanted to escape.)
Azurin said Agustin is currently in critical condition.
Another PUPC was also wounded.
Azurin said the incident was planned, noting that the suspects used an improvised knife.
The top cop has already ordered the conduct of an in-depth investigation into the incident.
Susukan, who is an Abu Sayyaf leader involved in the abduction of foreigners in Mindanao and other crimes, was arrested in Davao on August 13, 2020.
Cabintoy and Sulayao were alleged members of the Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who were arrested in Quezon City in 2019. (SunStar Philippines)