Biyernes, Mayo 3, 2013

Raps filed vs. two guards in Mancao escape

May 3, 2013 6:52pm

Criminal charges have been filed against the two guards who were supposed to be guarding murder suspect and former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, who escaped from government custody Thursday.

In an interview Friday, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Nonnatus Rojas said the complaint was filed with the Manila Prosecutor's Office for "infidelity in the custody of prisoners," in violation of Article 224 of the Revised Penal Code on "Evasion through Negligence."

The two guards were identified as Panlo Lani Remalante, an NBI project worker; and Ibrahim Musa, an NBI security guard. They are both detained at the NBI compound in Manila.

Among the evidence used against the two were sworn statements of two other jail guards, and a screen grab from closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage of the NBI.

"Based on CCTV, Ibrahim Musa escorted NBI detainee Mancao back to his cell at about 11:47 p.m. of May 1, 2013 despite a standing order from the chief of the Security Management Division not to confine Mancao at that facility since the detainee is due for transfer to the Manila City Jail," the NBI said in its complaint.

"Through their negligence, detainee Mancao casually left his cell through its unlock [sic] doors escaped," it added.

Rojas had already relieved the head and several personnel of the NBI's Security Management Division, pending an investigation on how Mancao was able to slip past his guards.

"Inaalam pa namin kung saan dumaan si Mancao, kung sa Taft Avenue ba or United Nations Avenue. Sabi nila (guards) ni-lock daw nila [ang gate]," said Rojas.

Mancao: Spare them

In an interview on GMA News earlier in the day, Mancao appealed to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and the NBI to spare the two jail guards.

"Sorry ho sa kanila. Walang alam silang dalawa. Mag-isa lang akong gumawa ng paraan," he said, adding one of the two guards had been serving the agency for 14 years but remains a contractual worker.

Rojas said once Mancao is captured, he will remain under NBI custody until the proper "clearance" for his transfer to the Manila City Jail had been secured. It was his transfer to the city jail that prompted Mancao to mount his early-morning escape, saying he would only be killed once inside the jail facility.

Mancao earlier said he would only surrender if the government, through the Department of Justice and the NBI, can secure his safety.

De Lima said Mancao was only "exposing himself to more danger" by remaining outside the custody of the NBI, a constituent agency under the DOJ.

"Now, mapipilitan talagang gawin ko na I'm going to terminate his Witness Protection Program coverage. Even if it's with a heavy heart," De Lima said.

Mancao, along with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, had been implicated in the abduction and killing of PR man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. Lacson, however, has already been cleared by the court. Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News