10 Pasay jailbreakers hauled back to jail in 36 hours
TRACKER teams from the National Capital Region Police Office under Major General Edgar Alan O. Okubo scored a record in Philippine manhunt history after accounting for all 10 Pasay City Police Station inmates 36 hours after they bolted the facility and stole the firearm of the jail custodian whom they overpowered before beating.
“We have accounted for all 10 Pasay jailbirds with the help of informants, concerned citizens and even the families of those who have escaped,” said the Metro Manila police chief.
Local Governmeny Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. and Philippine National Police chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. congratulated the NCRPO Team for accounting for all 10 escaped prisoners. PNP Officer-in-Charge Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia likewise commended Okubo and his men for making the record in tracking down escapees.
Maj. Gen. Okubo said that the 10th escapee identified as Richard de la Cruz, 37, of Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, was tracked down inside the Pasay City Public Cemetery on Tramo Street in Barangay 148 at around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The tracker teams beat the deadline given to them by Okubo and the Pasay City local government and on record became the officers who recaptured 10 of 10 jailbirds less than 48-hours after they were given the order.
Maj. Gen. Okubo said that the monetary reward offered by the local government will be given to the informants who led the NCRPO men to the escapees.
The jailbreakers: Norn Deyta alias ‘Pitpit’, was recaptured near his residence on Apelo Cruz Street. He yielded a caliber 9mm Beretta pistol with a magazine containing eight bullets when arrested. The gun belonged to the duty jailer who was mauled by the suspects before being stripped of his Philippine National Police-issued weapon.
Christian Salvatierra, was caught by an NCRPO Tracker Team along Mabolo Street in Bgy. Parian, Calamba City in Laguna; John Michael Cabe, was arrested along Quirino Avenue in Bgy. San Dionisio, Parañaque City; Romeo Estopa, was arrested on Mulawin Street, in Pasay; Carlo Magno Benavides, of No. 520 A. Medicion 2E, Imus City in Cavite was tracked down in his residence 30 minutes later; Carlo Magno Benavides, of no. 520 A. Medicion 2E, Imus City in Cavite, was tracked down in his residence 30 minutes later.
Joey Hernandez, 29; and Eden Garcia, 18, both residents of Bgy. 152 in Malibay were arrested a few hours later Monday; Joshua Panganiban, 25, and Tirzo Galit, a 31-year old vendor from no .441 Bgy. 142, were arrested around 2 p.m.
All suspects were facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Salvatierra has also been charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or the anti-illegal gambling law.
The jailbreak led to administrative relief and investigation of the chief of the Pasay City Malibay Sub-Station 6 Major Jerry Sunga and the assigned precinct jailer following the escape of 10 persons under their custody.
