Five of 10 detainees who escaped from the Malibay Police Sub-Station 6 detention facility in Pasay City before dawn Monday will be safer if they surrender.

In a press conference, Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano also urged the families and loved ones of the detainees at-large to encourage them to surrender.

The police identified the still-missing detainees as Richard Dela Cruz, Carlo Magno Benavidez, Norman Deyta, and Joseph Osorio, all for illegal drugs; and John Michael Cabe (carnapping).

Five of the escapees who were re-arrested were drug suspects Eden Garcia and Joey Hernandez, both in Barangay 59 at about 11:30 a.m., and Christian Salvatierra, captured at about 4:45 p.m. in Barangay Parian, Calamba City; and robbery suspects Joshua Panganiban, caught in Barangay Santa Ana, Taytay, Rizal, and Tirzo Galit, who surrendered.

“Sana po sumuko na po kayo. Huwag na po ninyong gawin ‘yan kasi baka mamaya mapaano pa po kayo sa labas. Eh mas maganda po bumalik na kayo at binibigyan naman kayo ng pagkakataon (Please surrender. Don’t do that because later something might happen to you. It is better that you return and you will be given a chance),” Calixto-Rubiano assured.

“At sa mga pamilya nila, sana payuhan niyo rin po ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na ang gawin ay ‘yung tama. Baka naguguluhan lang sila (To their families, I am hoping that you would advise your loved ones to do the right thing. Maybe they are just confused),” she added.

The city government is offering a reward of PHP30,000 per detainee for any information that could lead to their arrest.

Salviaterra was arrested in a joint operation by members of the Pasay City and Calamba, Laguna police.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo has ordered the relief of Malibay police sub-station 6 commander Maj. Jerry Sunga over the incident.

Capt. Ashley Rico Magboo has been designated as the substation’s officer-in-charge.

Okubo also directed Col. Ronald Laoyan, acting director of the NCRPO Regional Internal Affairs Service, to conduct an investigation on administrative lapses.

Sunga said there was only one guard on duty at the time of the incident since most of the personnel of the Malibay police were deployed to bus stations in the area for the Holy Week exodus.

Ideally, at least two police officers should be guarding the inmates per shift. (PNA)