Ex-solon to request home furlough

THE legal team of former senator Leila de Lima is now discussing with her the supposed offer of the Department of Justice (DOJ) allowing her to go on home furlough.

This, as lawyer Filibon Tacardon disclosed on GMA News’ “Unang Balita” that Sen. Imee Marcos has relayed to them the offer of the DOJ and Philippine National Police (PNP) allowing de Lima, who was held hostage by three inmates Monday, of a home furlough.

Tacardon, de Lima’s counsel, said that the defense team will file the necessary motion before the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) should de Lima accepts the offer.

“Kaming defense team ay nagre-ready na i-discuss sa kanya mamaya yung possibility lang naman ng home furlough as suggested by Senator Imee Marcos kahapon, na sinasabi niya ay in-offer daw sa amin ng DOJ at PNP. Pag-aaralan namin ito,” he said.

De Lima is scheduled to appear in one of the remaining illegal drugs charges filed against her before the Taguig RTC on Monday.

The embattled former senator was held hostage inside the PNP Custodial Center Monday by three inmates who were eventually shot dead.

De Lima was unscathed though still experiencing pain where a knife had been pressed to her chest during the incident.

Reports have it that P/Cpl. Roger Agustin was delivering food for “persons under police custody” (PUPCs) at the maximum security compound when the incident occurred.

Agustin was stabbed with an improvised knife by three PUPCs who were trying to escape, including an Abu Sayyaf leader.

De Lima was held hostage by one of the PUPCs when the latter fled toward the direction of the former legislator’s cell.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Monday honored the quick-thinking policemen who rescued the detained former senator from an extremist who held her hostage after he and his two cohorts tried but failed to bolt the maximum-security PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame early Sunday morning.

Given the PNP “Medalya ng Kadakilaan” were Colonel Mark D. Pespes, the director of the PNP Headquarters Support Service (PNP-HSS), and his men, Patrolman Lorenze Ian Matias, Chief Master Sergeant Jimmy Ferrez, and Corporal Rizza Pagaduan and three members of the elite PNP Special Action Force (SAF) detailed with the PNP-HSS identified as Captain Michael Gobway, MSgt. Denver Lou Ngo-oc, and Cpl. Marvin Banigon.

“For note-worthy acts of heroism, duty during the successful rescue of Atty. Leila de Lima, who was held hostage by high-profile PUPCs (persons under PNP custody), which resulted in an armed encounter and neutralization of the three hostage-takers […] the Medalya ng Kadakilaan is proudly awarded to the Camp Commander, Col. Mark Pespes,” the medal citation said.

Pespes, also a former PNP-SAF officer from PNP Academy (PNPA) Class 1993 was the one who shot and killed the jailed Dawlah Islamiyah member who grabbed de Lima by the neck and threatened to kill her.

The PNP-HSS director, also known as the Camp Crame command, said he was in his office which is located at the back of the jail, when he heard the commotion and later confirmed it was an attempted jailbreak over the radio.

Pespes said he later studied the situation inside de Lima’s room after finding out that one of the PUPC had already grabbed the ex-lawmaker and turned off the lights in the area.

“Medyo madilim sa area, shoulder to head lang ang makikita mo sa suspect who demanded a helicopter, a Hummer (vehicle), and the media. He later asked for water,” the official said.

Pespes said that he gave bottled water to the suspect, but the latter refused to drink, suspecting it could have been laced with tranquilizers that will make him fall asleep.

He said that at that time, he and his men were already hearing de Lima shouting “nasasaktan ako” and later heard the hostage taker threatening to “kill” her before 7:30 in the morning.

Pespes said he got the opportunity to shoot the suspect when he got hold of a glass of water he had taken from de Lima’s water dispenser.

De Lima said that on that fateful Sunday morning, she felt she was about to die when the hostage taker told her he would take her with him since his two companions, a fellow Dawlah Islamiyah member and a hardcore Abu Sayyaf member, had already been killed by their guards.

Azurin said that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region Field Unit is already investigating the incident and will look into the possible administrative lapses committed by members of the HSS Custodial Security Unit, which allowed the three slain suspects to plan their escape and arm themselves with improvised knives.

“We’re trying to restudy, recalculate existing custodial guidelines insofar as security in the Camp Crame jail is concerned,” the PNP chief said.

He noted that one of the changes they are planning is the need to have two policemen who will deliver food to the PUPCs. Azurin said that all indications show that the suspects really wanted to escape and were not targeting de Lima, who routinely opens her cell door between 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning for her daily rituals, which include praying the rosary.

Azurin said that de Lima was temporarily brought to the PNP General Hospital for monitoring of her condition while her cell is being put into order.

On Sunday, actually during their “sunning time”, the three suspects attacked Corporal Roger Agustin as he was delivering food to them. All the slain suspects were found to be already wearing rubber shoes and not the typical rubber slippers, an indication they had long come up with the escape idea.

Agustin is still in the hospital but appears to be okay, his CT scan revealing no serious injuries, said Pespes. Agustin will also be recognized by the PNP leadership.

Azurin said that following the incident, they will now assign two unarmed policemen to deliver food to the PUPCs inside the Camp Crame jail.

“Definitely, nagkaroon ng lapse diyan dahil nga nakita kasi nila na ‘yung nagpapakain, pagpasok niya, mag-isa siya and then unarmed siya. So they saw the opportunity na if they can attack itong pulis natin, they might have the means na makatakas sa custodial kasi it’s a very early morning,” he said.

Under the new system, a “buddy-buddy” system will be in place to ensure that there will be two policemen delivering food to the prisoners. Azurin said that the HSS personnel must also ensure that their security checklists are fully noted and observed.

The policemen involved in the food distribution in the custodial jail are unarmed to prevent the possibility that inmates may overpower them and get their guns. Tower guards are the ones who are armed with high-powered rifles.

Matias was identified as the one who shot the two other slain suspects, while Cpl. Pagaduan had the presence of mind to immediately lock the main exit gate after noticing the commotion.

“We will also be very strict on visitors and will bar the entry of metals, including metal utensils that can be fashioned into deadly weapons by the prisoners. Siguro, magkamay na lang muna sila sa pagkain,” Azurin said.

The incident triggered the administrative relief of Lieutenant Col. Patrick Remillano, the chief of the HSS-CSU, pending the ongoing investigation. By Hector Lawas and Alfred Dalizon