By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Authorities arrested a police officer for alleged negligence that resulted in the escape of an inmate from the detention facility of a substation of the Caloocan City Police Station (CPS), the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Wednesday.
The officer, with the rank of staff sergeant, was collared at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday along Samson Road, Barangay 8, Caloocan City, after he was found to be duty jailer when the incident occurred.
Initial reports showed the incident at the CPS Sub-Station 6 happened on June 8 but was only discovered the following night.
Immediate verification and investigation revealed lapses in custodial procedures, which also showed that the arrested officer did not report the incident.
In a statement, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said the police officer is now facing a case of violation of Article 224 of the Revised Penal Code (Infidelity in the Custody of Prisoner or Evasion through Negligence).
He said the operation was in line with the directive of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to run after police officers who would violate the law.
“NCRPO will be decisive in our actions against members of the police force who will violate the law. In doing so, we assure that their rights are respected and due process of law is observed. NCRPO’s actions make one thing clear: no one is above the law, especially those who are entrusted to enforce it,” Aberin said. (PNA)
