AUTHORITIES are pursuing a 16-year-old inmate of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ) who escaped from the detention facility at about 4a.m., Monday, November 28.
Jail warden Dominador Tagarda said the escapee, charged with carnapping April, this year, has been distributed to the different police stations to aid in the efforts to recapture the fugitive.
The escaped minor had been housed in an open room together with other minor detainees inside the MOPJ.
Tagarda said jail guard Glenfrey Sajulan saw the inmate climbing the fence from the tower but failed to prevent the escape, adding Sajulan failed to use his firearm to prevent the escape.
The MOPJ chief said Sajulan was only hired four months ago and lacks jail management experience.
“Pero dili unta kini maoy hinungdan. Wala lang gyud siya moresponde og tarong. Pagkakita niya, iya untang gibadlong og tarong ug nag warning shot ba kaha (But this is not the main reason. He did not respondappropriately. When he saw [the boy], he should have reprimanded him properly and probably, did a warming shot),” Tagarda said.
Tagarda said he is disappointed that despite the efforts to equip jail guards with the improved jail management capabilities, the lessons have not taken root.
“Bag-o pami nag training uban sa taga BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) pero subo lang taka wala nagamit ato nga time (We just had a training with the BJMP but it’s so sad that it was not applied) ,”Tagarda added.
For his part, Sajulan admitted that he was uncertain on how to react when he saw the inmate climbing.
Sajulan said instead of giving a warning shot, he opted to call his five colleagues on duty over his handheld radio but the inmate already fled.
Sajulan said he is ready to accept whatever sanctions that would be imposed on him.
Governor Yevgeny Emano has ordered an in-depth investigation on the incident.
Emano said the incident may have been inevitable considering that the facility, built to house 200 detainees, is currently occupied by some 600 inmates.
But Emano said lapses that led to the escape will still be investigated.
“Naa gihapon (There will be) due process. It will be investigated,” Emano said.
He said the capitol is currently working on the transfer of the provincial jail facility in Initao town to better accommodate the inmates.
A public-private partnership for the construction of the provincial jail is still being work out at the Provincial Board.
