CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela – A Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) who fled the provincial jail to exact revenge and murder his live-in partner's lover was killed in a shootout with the police in a manhunt operation in Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora, on Wednesday, October 4.
Police Col. Myles Angel Pascual, Aurora police chief, identified the suspect as Wendell Sardea, 25, of Sitio Hacienda, Barangay Nonong Sr., San Luis.
Sardea was the subject of massive manhunt after his escape from the provincial jail last July 28.
Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol and empty shells in the encounter site.
Sardea was a suspect in the killing of Jaybee delos Santos, 23, of Purok 6, Barangay Nonong Sr., last month.
The suspect shot Delos Santos in the head after he was caught sleeping with his live-in partner "Jannah" on September 23.
A source inside the Aurora Provincial Jail said that the suspect's escape had been long planned after he received rumors that Jannah has a relationship with Delos Santos after only being detained for six months.
“Sinaksak po ng suspek ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pinatulis na toothbrush kaya isinugod sa Aurora Memorial Hospital. Habang nakaconfine, nagkunwari po siyang gagamit lang ng comfort room. Dun na po nakatakas matapos distrungkahin ang kisame ng CR (The suspect stabbed himself using a sharpened toothbrush and he was taken to the Aurora Memorial Hospital. He asked to use the bathroom when he was confined but he fled by destroying the ceiling of the CR) ,” the source said.
The suspect was also heard confiding to other cellmates that he will kill a policeman who arrested him in an anti-drug operation and another jail guard who frequently mauled him.
"Lalo pang nagpatindi sa galit ng suspek nung mabalitaan na isinama raw nung babae ang bagong boyfriend sa mismong labas ng jail nang minsang dumalaw at nalaman din na buntis ang kanyang partner (The suspect got really pissed off when he learned that his live-in partner brought her new boyfriend outside the jail premises when she once visited and learned that she is pregnant through another man," the source said.
Police arrested Sardea in a buy-bust operation. Seized from him were suspected shabu and a gun.
Sardea was facing cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002 and Republic 10591 or Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act.
He was considered “armed and dangerous” by the police after killing Delos Santos.
Police traced Sardea to a house in Barangay Ditumabo. Lawmen asked Sardea to surrender but he fired at police officers who returned fire and killed the suspect.