15 QC cops face raps over escape of 6 Chinese inmates

Aside from charges of evasion through negligence, Montejo said they are also studying the filing of administrative charges against them. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – Charges await the 15 police officers who were on duty when six Chinese nationals escaped from a temporary detention facility in Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

In a statement Thursday, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said these police officers have been relieved from their post and were disarmed pending investigation.

Aside from charges of evasion through negligence, Montejo said they are also studying the filing of administrative charges against them.

He added that they will pursue charges against the 15 cops despite the recapture of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reminded police officers to be vigilant in guarding detention facilities in precincts.

“This is also a wake-up call for all officers guarding our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), stricter and stronger measures should be employed to avoid similar cases,” NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said in a statement.

He, meanwhile, lauded operatives from the QCPD’S Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and Tactical Motorized Unit (TMU) who rearrested the inmates.

“I am elated with the successful manhunt/follow-up operations launched by the CIDU-QCPD and TMU to rearrest these Chinese nationals and put them under custody,” he added.

On Monday night, the six Chinese nationals identified as Zhang Yi Xin, Ludong Jin, Song Qicheng, Lu Yinliang, Huang Yong Qiao, and Chen Bin were found to be missing during a headcount at the temporary custodial facility inside Camp Karingal.

In a follow-up operation on Tuesday, CIDU and TMU officers recaptured the suspects coming out from a creek at the corner of Mapagkumbaba and Fulgencio Streets in Barangay Krus na Ligas, Quezon City.

The suspects are among the 342 foreign nationals arrested by the Bureau of Immigration and the QCPD for working without proper permits and visas at a building in Barangay Bago Bantay, Quezon City in December last year.

They were also found working for a licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator that was not yet allowed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to operate.

The suspects will be booked for additional charges for violation of Article 151 (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority) of the Revised Penal Code.