Two officials of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have been relieved of their posts as a result of the escape last Jan. 17 of four persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the facility’s maximum-security compound, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced on Thursday, Jan. 20.
“BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag ordered the relief of the Superintendent of NBP Maximum-Security Compound CSupt. Arnold Guzman and the NBP Commander of the Guards (COG) CSInsp. Israel Basi,” BuCor said.
“They were relieved of their positions and are now under the Directorate for Administration while investigation is still on-going regarding the escape incident,” it said.
It also said that CSupt. Roy Villasi has been named acting superintendent of the NBP’s maximum-security compound, while CSInsp. Reynaldo Tuguinay has been designated chief of the COG.
Four PDLs escaped last Jan. 17. A PDL, who was set for release this month of January, was wounded during the escape of the four inmates and thereafter died.
Joint operatives of the BuCor and Philippine National Police (PNP) were able to track down and killed two of the escapees during separate encounters.
Those killed were identified as Arwin V. Bio, 35, and Pacifico V. Adlawan, 49.
Still being tracked down are PDLs Drakilou Y. Falcon and Chris Candas Ablas. Falcon and Ablas were both convicted of robbery with homicide.