PRO-6 chief warns cops not to take inmates out of jail, help run errands

ILOILO City – “Do not take an inmate out of the jail to help run errands.”

This was the warning of Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) to all police personnel across Western Visayas after an inmate escaped from Jaro Police Station whom the police allegedly took out of jail to run errands.

“It’s been an order ever since na bawal palabasin ang preso para utusan kasi preso ‘ yan. Anybody who will defy will face stiffer administrative and criminal sanctions,” Wanky said.

Wanky i ssued a stern warning to his men when an inmate identified as Gabriel Carlo Tabon, 34, a native of Pasig City and facing an estafa case, escaped last Wednesday afternoon, February 28.

Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), had ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlon Valencia, chief of the ICPO-City Intelligence and Detective Management Unit, to conduct a thorough investigation into how Tabon escaped.

But reports showed that a jailer and some police personnel tasked Tabon to clean the surroundings, which the latter took as an opportunity to flee when he noticed that no police were around.

Tabon remained at large as of this writing.

With this, t hree j ail officers, with the ranks of senior master sergeant, staff sergeant, and patrolman, were relieved from their posts and temporarily reassigned to the ICPO headquarters pending further investigation.

Coronica further expressed determination to uncover any lapses in security measures at the Jaro police station and to hold those responsible accountable./