Full probe on jailbreak murder in Apayao needed

EDITORIAL

The recent killing of a jail guard and a detainee by two inmates during a jailbreak here at the Apayao provincial jail here has rocked the sleepy town of Sta. Marcela in the province.

Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. condemned the murder and jailbreak which he said, tainted the province’s image as the most peaceful and orderly province in Northern Luzon.

He said massive manhunt operations must be conducted to arrest the perpetrators for them to answer for the crimes they committed.

“We are deeply saddened by the latest violent incident in the province. We want our law enforcers to have convincing results on the outcome of their investigation to give justice to the families and relatives of the victims,” Bulut said.

As of press time, police were still on a manhunt for the inmates who were identified by police as Marcelino Elivado Dagdagan, 43, married and his brother Felix Elivado Dagdagan Jr., 23, both residents of Barangay San Jose, Flora town also in Apayao.

Senior Supt. Robert Gallardo, director of the Aparao provincial police office, identified the fatalities as Provincial Guard 1 Damaso Patang Peru Jr. and inmate Heubert Baletbet Fuerte.

“We are conducting massive pursuit operation against the escapees because their murder cases have been aggravated by the murder of the jail guard and the helpless inmate,” Gallardo said in a report.

Three inmates of the jail reportedly sought assistance of law enforcers after the jailbreak prompting responding police of the Sta. Marcela to immediately check the crime scene.

Police discovered two dead bodies at the premises of the jail. The body of Pero was discovered was discovered slumped near the flagpole with multiple hacked wounds on his head while the cadaver of Fuerte was found inside the jail, his neck hacked while a gunshot wound (inflicted with the use of a shotgun) was found on the left side of his stomach.  

Earlier, the suspects and the victims together with OIC jail warden, PG2 Reynaldo Valenzuela Romero, and another male person named Aristotle Montenegro reportedly had a drinking spree at the kitchen of the said jail.

After several hours, Romero together with Montenegro reportedly left the provincial jail leaving Peru alone. This reportedly gave the suspects a chance to kill the victims. The suspects fled carting away the issued firearms of the jail guard, a Cal. 9mm pistol and a shotgun.

Police found a bolo, the alleged weapon used to hack the victims; knife without handle, a black holster for short firearm; and two bullets for 12 gauge shotgun.

All recovered items were brought to the Apayao crime laboratory for  examination while autopsy was done on the bodies of the victims.

A thorough investigation on the incident like culpability of jail officers on the matter is in order to give justice to the victims and their families.