By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The four prisoners who earlier escaped from the Police Station 3 (PS3) detention facility have surrendered to police. Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson, Police Lt. Colonel Ariel Pico, said Ely Lorence Sazon, Sunny Capa, Michael Peñoso, and Jeffrey Elangos are back in police custody.
Sazon was the first to surrender, who yielding to police late Tuesday afternoon accompanied by his family. He was then escorted by members of PS3 and local radio station Radyo Bandera Sweet FM-Bacolod.
When first interviewed by the radio station, the escapee said he surrendered out of fear for his life and the safety of his family. He also claimed he initially did not want to escape but was persuaded and threatened by Peñoso and Elangos.
Sazon’s family also negotiated an agreement with police to ensure his safety in return for his surrender.
Later that evening, Capa surrendered to members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and was later handed over to PS3.
He was followed by Peñoso, who yielded to PS3 through the assistance of Bombo Radyo-Bacolod.
Elangos was the last one, surrendering around 4:00 a.m. yesterday morning.
Two of the escapees claimed they hid in Barangay Banago; while Elangos said he fled to Pontevedra, reportedly crossed to Iloilo City before changing his mind, and surrendering to members of the BCPO mobile force company.
In an interview with members of the media, the four claimed they escaped because they missed their families, especially Elangos, who claimed his family never visited him.
When asked about the child abuse case filed against him, he admitted to hurting one of his children in an effort discipline them but had no “evil intentions.”
After it was explained to him that his family were unable to visit due to the charges, Elangos eventually made contact with his family via telephone
Meanwhile, PS3 commander, Police Major Ruel Culanag, said another reason for the escape may have been an attempt at revenge by Sazon and Capa over the P9.1 million drug seizure.
Culanag said both suspects used the escape to ruin the station’s reputation, effectively relieving him from duty; along with affecting the station’s anti-illegal drugs drive.
However, the PS3 official pointed out, even if he and other members of the station were removed from their respective posts, police operations would continue.
Police are now waiting for orders to transfer custody of the four to the Metro Bacolod District Jail./DGB, WDJ
