HOSTAGE TAKING AT BJMP SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE

The San Jose District Jail is located at Marina St., San Jose, Antique beside the San Jose Municipal Motorpool. It has approximately a total area of 500 square meters. It is composed of seven (7) cells ; cells 1, 2, & 3 has an approximate area of 3.5 m x 4 m; cells 4, 5, & 6 has an approximate area of 3.5m x 2.4m; and the Annex building which considered as cell 7 has an approximate area of 3m x 7.5m. The Unit also has its Kitchen Area, Visiting Area, Sunning Area and the Admin building.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

a.    At about 5:38 in the afternoon of August 25, 2011 at the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP) San Jose District Jail while the inmates were outside their cells to take their supper, detainee/trustee BENNY MIGORE reported to San Jose MPS that detainees CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO, LOYD FRANCISCO, JERRY NALDO and ALLAN LERONA grabbed and shot to death Jail Officer 2 (JO2) ROMAR SAQUIBAL y DESMONTE.

  

b.    Personnel of San Jose MPS led by PCINSP GILBERT T GORERO, COP responded and secured the area and likewise informed AntiquePPO as well as San Jose Mayor Hon. Rony L Molina for the activation of the Crisis Management Committee.

c.    CIMTG was also activated with PSUPT MARLOE L MARFIL as PCIMTG Commander as members of the PPO and Antique PPSC proceeded to the area to secure the place of incident in order to prevent the detainees from escaping. PSUPT MARFIL informed PSSUPT RUPERTO T FLORO JR., PD AntiquePPO, who was in Cebu for an official seminar, and who immediately gave instructions to activate the CMC and PCIMTG as well as to inform higher office.

d.    Upon arrival of the PCIMTG, including members (paramedics, BFP and other concerned agencies), personnel were deployed as a Command Post and Media Holding Area were established.

e.    At about 6:10 in the evening negotiations started with PINSP JUVY E CORDERO, PINSP JEREME M BELO, SPO1 Ariston F Gilza and PO1 Marlon A Galedo who were later on assisted by Prov’l Public Attorney ANTONIO ALCANTARA, as Third Party Intermediary (TPI) whom the inmates personally requested to assist in their surrender. The inmates, led by Lloyd Francisco and armed with a hand grenade demanded for an escape vehicle as further negotiations were conducted.

f.     Cellphones and Motorola handheld radios were provided for the inmates as means of communication during the negotiation.

g.    Detainee/trustee AGAPITO ODANGO SR. and REX REBREZA were utilized by other inmates as emissary to the Negotiating Team and briefed the team regarding the situation inside the facility.

h.    While negotiating, gunfire was heard from inside the jail facility prompting the PCIMTG to alert the SWAT Team led by PSUPT JOSE ROY M TORRECHILLA for possible assault as the suspects warned that they will kill a fellow inmate.

i.      At about 9:30 in the evening JSSUPT IGNACIO PANTI, RD, BJMP6 arrived at the scene. 

j.      Further negotiations centered on the surrender of the inmates, explosive and weapons and at about 9:32 in the evening requested the following demands: gripes on the treatment of other inmates; escape vehicle; food; cigarettes; return of JSINSP PRISEL AREVALO, former District Jail Officer; and if ever they surrender, they be transferred to San Jose MPS for their safety and their eventual transfer to BJMP Manila.

k.    At about 10:45 in the evening PCSUPT ERNESTO A TESORO JR., DRD-A, PRO6 arrived at the scene.  

l.      Negotiations lasted until 11:30 in the evening of the same date as ICPO SWAT Team arrived at San Jose and the inmates sensing that their demands for escape will not be met, opted to peaceably surrender provided that the media will accompany them and at about 12:00 midnight of August 25, 2011, 16 inmates voluntarily surrendered along with a NORINCO caliber .45 pistol bearing SN 1001911 with 2 magazines containing 18 live ammunitions; a HM caliber .38 revolver with ammunitions and M59 fragmentation grenade (without safety pin). Two (2) inmates who acted as emissaries were also taken to San Jose MPS but were later returned to BJMP while the remaining 154 remained at their respective cells.

m.   The 16 inmates who surrendered came from different cells of the 6-cell jail facility. Another inmate, GIDEON MISTAS, who was later pinpointed as one of the suspects was also turned-over to San Jose MPS, making 17 inmates were temporarily detained at San Jose MPS.

n.    At about 3:30 in the morning of August 26, 2011, PCSUPT CIPRIANO E QUEROL, JR., AL HAJ, RD PRO6 arrived at San Jose MPS and meted PSUPT MARFIL, PCINSP GORERO and San Jose Mayor Hon. Rony L Molina. RD and DRD-A PRO6 left Antique at about 4:00 o’clock in the morning enroute to Iloilo City via land vehicle.       

                  INVESTIGATION

a.    Initial investigation on inmate BENNY MIGORE revealed that sometime before the evening mess, he saw fellow inmate ALLAN LERONA picking-up a plastic bag which was believed to have come from outside the walls of the facility and passed the same into Cell Nr 3 where CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and other inmates were held. Seeing this, Migore informed the Duty Jail Guards. JO3 Rafael Tumaob y Gallano then summoned detainees Allan and Alonzo Lerona for questioning. After the questioning, as JO2 SAQUIBAL was opening the Secondary Fence Gate to allow the duo to return back inside the main jail compound, JO2 Saquibal was suddenly charged, dragged and grappled by FRANCISCO, MISTAS, REYNALDO and NALDO. JO2 Saquibal was later shot on his nape by FERNANDO.

b.    172 detainees scampered into their cells as the Duty Jail Guards returned fire at the suspects. Further investigation disclosed that the smuggling in of a caliber .38 revolver and a hand grenade inside the jail facility was purposely to be used by inmates LOYD FRANCISCO, ALONZO LERONA, ALLAN LERONA, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and JERRY NALDO for their escape.

ACTION/S TAKEN

a.    Scene of the Crime Operation was conducted by Antique PCLO led by PSINSP HERBERT A TUNAC and revealed that JO2 Romar Saquibal y Desmonte, 40 years old, single and a resident of Brgy Madrancga, San Jose suffered a gunshot wound on his nape which caused his death and was brought to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital morgue at around 12:15 in the morning of August 26, 2011 for autopsy. Recovered from the crime scene were eight (8) fired cartridges: one (1) for caliber .45 and seven (7) for caliber 5.56mm (M16).

b.    JSINSP CHARLES CASALAN, Prov’l Jail Administrator was installed as Officer-in-Charge of BJMP San Jose District Jail after the relief of JINSP JOHNY LAYUG who was the Jail Warden during the incident.

c.    Surrendered firearms are in the custody of Antique PCLO for ballistic examinations while the hand grenade is presently in the custody of SPO1 Meneses of the SWAT-EOD, ICPO.

d.    On August 26, 2011 PD, AntiquePPO ordered for the creation and activation of the Special Investigation Task Group “PRESO” (SITG PRESO) tasked to conduct formal investigation into the shooting and hostage-taking incidents effective the same date. SITG “PRESO” is led by PCINSP GILBERT T GORERO, COP, San Jose MPS assisted by personnel from Prov’l IDM and Intelligence Branches; Antique CID Unit; Antique PCLO and San Jose MPS IDM Section.     

  

e.    As of 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of August 27, 2011 with the consent of Prov’l Warden SALVADOR GERONA, fourteen (14) of the seventeen (17) detainees/suspects were transferred to the Antique Prov’l Jail/Rehabilitation Center, Binirayan Hills, San Jose, Antique and were detained in separate cells while three (3) others, namely LOYD FRANCISCO, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and EVELIO MOLINA, were withheld at San Jose MPS lock-up cell.

f.     On August 29, 2011 at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon Case Conference with members of the SITG “PRESO” was held at the AntiquePPO Conference Room.

g.    Initially, a criminal charge for MURDER WITH THE USE OF ILLEGALLY POSSESSED FIREARMS is being prepared against all the seventeen (17) suspects wherein four (4) of them, namely LOYD FRANCISCO, JERRY NALDO, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and GIDEON MISTAS were ‘PRINCIPALS BY DIRECT PARTICIPATION while the 13 others as accomplices/accessories. In addition, Violation of RA 8294 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) is also being considered to be charged against LOYD FRANCISCO.

Cayetano lays down four key problematic areas to be addressed to attain economic dev’t

Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Aquino administration to comprehensively address four (4) key problematic areas plaguing our business sector in order to strive for economic development along side its established goal of achieving good governance.

The senator pointed out that peace and order, infrastructure deficiency, good governance and the price of electricity were identified by businessmen as key areas that need to be addressed in order for the country to attain economic development.

“Basically, we need to jumpstart the country’s economic program. Why not focus more on those (4) key problematic areas plaguing our businessmen?” he said.  

Cayetano reiterated that in addressing our country’s problems, the government needs to balance its attention to both the economic side and the good governance side.

He also called on the Malacanang to clearly explain the economic program of the Aquino administration, or what has been referred to as “Aquino-nomics”.

“When they had Reagonomics in the US, for example, they had very specific economic theories regarding their stand on taxes and government spending. That is what is lacking in the government’s economic program now,” he said.

Cayetano also suggested that it would be best if the administration were to come up with a more detailed policy on further borrowings to address the country’s foreign debt crisis.

“With what’s happening in the US, one of the richest countries and now they talk you about a debt default would show us that debt is something to be addressed right away and not to be taken for granted,” he added.

The senator reiterated the need for a very clear debt policy that also involves the policy on further borrowings.  This, he said, should have a clear cut outline of what can and will be borrowed and where this will be used.

He added that the lack of this kind of policy leads to the wastage of further borrowings due to the prevalence of graft and corruption in our system.

The minority leader noted that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) may be assigned as a clearing house but stressed that achieving increased transparency has to take precedence over other plans regarding the issue of foreign debt.

Sen. Pia: Senate to start RH Bill debates next week RH bill sponsor looks forward to intelligent, focused debates

Senator Pia S. Cayetano said the much-anticipated plenary debates on the Senate version of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill are ready to commence next week at the Upper Chamber.

Cayetano, principal sponsor of Senate Bill No.2865 under Committee Report No.49, otherwise known as ‘The Reproductive Health Act of 2011,’ said she looks forward to ‘intelligent discussions’ between the measure’s sponsors and interpellators in the coming days and weeks.

The lady senator said she expects the interpellations to be opened on the Senate floor after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago delivers her co-sponsorship speech on the RH Bill during Monday’s session [August 1].

“I look forward to explaining the different issues and defending the RH bill before my colleagues as an urgent measure that will save the lives of mothers, the newborn and the unborn. I also hope to clarify whatever misconceptions they may have in the course of the plenary debates,” added Cayetano, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations.

“I do expect sparks to fly from time to time, but I trust the Senate debates to be intelligent, informative and firmly focused on relevant issues related to the measure. The public can follow the debates and actually learn along with us [senators] by monitoring the proceedings through live-streaming on the Senate website [www.senate.gov.ph] and through media news reports,” Cayetano shared.

“In answering the interpellations, I will focus on socioeconomics, which covers such topics as maternal and child health, family planning concerns, statistics and other social issues, while Sen. Defensor-Santiago has offered to discuss issues on Catholic theology and constitutional and international law.”

Twenty out of the 23-member chamber signed Committee Report No.49 when it was filed before the Senate adjourned its first regular session last June. Of this number, six signed without reservations, 13 signed with reservations or signified their intention to interpellate or amend, while only 1 dissented.

Cayetano earlier expressed confidence that Pres. Benigno Aquino III continues to support the RH Bill, even if there were no references to the measure in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday. “Even if it wasn’t mentioned in the SONA, I believe that the President supports it,” she said.

She also welcomed the ‘openness’ of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who declared that the Senate wasready to discuss the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of the RH Bill in the speech he delivered last week to open the chamber's second regular session.

Cayetano suggested 3-fold approach against corruption: “prioritize FOI, Whistleblowers act & strengthening of Witness protection; appoint ‘full-time crusaders’; institutionalize lifestyle checks”

Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano suggested a three-fold approach against corruption to aid the administration achieve its goal of ridding the government of graft and corruption.

First, the senator, a long-time advocate of good governance, pointed out the need for the government to allocate a larger budget to the witness protection program in order to adequately protect the witnesses who have risked their lives in order to bare the truth regarding scams in the government.

“We need a strong ace. Look at what happened to Jun Lozada, to Sandra Cam and to all the other whistleblowers before. There are those who go without security anymore, no longer have jobs and whose families are still in constant danger,” he lamented.

Furthermore, the minority leader expressed his desire that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, the Whistleblowers Act and the strengthening of the Witness Protection Program be included and prioritized in the Legislative Agenda of the government.

Second, he suggested that the administration appoint point-persons for the cases that need to be resolved.

“We need full-time crusaders. We need people whose full focus is trained on resolving these cases,” he said.

Third, he also stressed the need for lifestyle checks to be institutionalized.

“Why don’t we form an elite team whose only job is to conduct lifestyle checks discretely without any exceptions regardless of position? It can be a presidential commission against graft or an attachment to the Office of the Ombudsman. This can serve as an assurance to the public that the fight against graft is non-stop,” he said.

In this light, Cayetano urged the government to involve non-government organizations (NGOs) and the private sector in its fight against graft and corruption in the country,

“We need a focused powerhouse legal team to serve as the ‘face’ of the fight against corruption. Witnesses, future and present, need to know who are in-charge and whom to go to and approach,” he said.