By Jennifer P. Rendon
A manhunt operation is still ongoing to capture an inmate of the Tigbauan Municipality Police Station who bolted his cell shortly after midnight on Nov. 25.
Major Rolando Araño, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) spokesperson, said that local police are coordinating with the family of 21-year-old Jesry Manlapuz alias Kalbo for his surrender. Manlapuz, a resident of Barangay 2, Poblacion, Tigbauan, Iloilo, was arrested in a police anti-illegal drugs operation on Nov. 17.
According to reports, Manlapuz asked Corporal Jyme Harold Millondaga, the duty sentinel, at around 12:15 a.m. Saturday if he could use the comfort room.
Araño explained that Tigbauan Municipal Police Station is housed in a standard police building. As such, its custodial facility has its own comfort room inside.
However, at that time, the comfort room was under repair because the toilet bowl flush was not working.
Millondaga unlocked the cell door for the suspect to use the nearby toilet, which is just situated at an arm’s length from the custodial facility.
The report stated that Millondaga let Manlapuz out without informing the duty jailer, Patrolman Jay Tejado.
It was only later that Millondaga noticed that the suspect had gone out of the toilet and did not return to his cell.
Araño said Manlapuz could have sneaked through the kitchen and exited at the police station’s back door.
He then slithered his way through the rice field and made good of his escape.
Araño said that both the duty sentinel and duty jailer would be investigated for what happened.
Their superior, Tigbauan police chief Captain Mary Jane Panes, will also be investigated under the doctrine of command responsibility.
