By Martin Sadongdong
An inmate who was rushed to a hospital after claiming he was sick managed to escape from his escorts from the Manila Police District (MPD) Wednesday, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar
(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN)
An initial police report identified the escapee as Arman Arroyo, 35, of Barangay 8, Leveriza Street, Malate, Manila, and a detainee at Malate Police Station (PS-9).
NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar confirmed that Arroyo escaped while he was being observed at Ospital ng Maynila around 3:30 a.m.
"Yes, an inmate from the Police Station 9 escaped while he was at the hospital," Eleazar said in Filipino during a press briefing at Camp Crame.
"The suspect apparently collapsed so police brought him to the hospital for a check-up. He was guarded by MPD personnel and he was with his mother," Eleazar added.
Eleazar said that when Arroyo felt better, he told cops that he would go to the comfort room to pee. His security escort, Police Officers 1 Rolly Mendano and Kelvin Ramirez, waited outside the comfort room.
However, Arroyo did not come out of the comfort room several minutes later so his security escorts forced their way inside.
It was only then that the cops realized Arroyo already got out of the hospital by prying open a small window leading to the exit.
According to Eleazar, Arroyo is facing an illegal drugs case and he has a heart disease (enlargement of the heart) based on the medical records of the MPD.
As for PO1 Mendano and Ramirez, Eleazar said they were already relieved from their post and a criminal case for infidelity in the custody of a detainee will be charged against them.
Eleazar also revealed that Superintendent Roberto Domingo, the station commander of Malate Police Station, already relieved his deputy station commander, Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, and two other on duty officers, due to command responsibility.
A manhunt was launched by the MPD to re-arrest Arroyo and put him behind bars as an additional case for escaping awaits him.
Cleanliness
Aside from congested facilities, inmates at Malate Police Station 9 have long been protesting the cleanliness of their prison cells.
The Malate Police Station was built to contain 30 inmates but it is currently packed with 100 prisoners.
Just last Sunday, Gerry Baluran, an inmate who was detained at Malate Police Station and transferred to Manila City Jail, collapsed and later died at the hospital.
Autopsy report showed he died after suffering from necrotizing fascitis, a flesh-eating disease he suspectedly got at the Malate Police Station