By CESAR JOLITO III

The police chief and two personnel of the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental were relieved from their posts following the escape of a rape suspect under their custody last month.

Police Major Eric Doronilla, along with two jailers, was ordered relieved effective October 1, according to the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR).

PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Colonel Joem Malong said the relief was implemented to ensure impartiality in the ongoing Internal Affairs Service investigation into the incident.

Doronilla has been reassigned as deputy chief at the Provincial Operations Management Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, while his post was taken over by Police Captain Jyan Carlo Mania, former aide-de-camp to PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay.

The two jailers, whose names were not immediately disclosed, were transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit pending the results of the investigation.

According to police records, the escapee — a 58-year-old fisherman — fled the custodial facility on September 9, just over a week after his arrest in Barangay Tuburan through a warrant for qualified rape of a minor, a non-bailable offense.

Authorities have since launched a manhunt operation for the suspect and announced a P20,000 cash reward for any information leading to his recapture.

Malong emphasized that the relief of the officers was a standard administrative measure to preserve the integrity of the probe.

“The relief is part of due process to prevent any influence over the ongoing investigation,” Malong said.

As of press time, the fugitive remains at large./CJ, WDJ