BY FELIPE CELINO

ROXAS City — Two officers of the Capiz Rehabilitation Center (CRC) were suspended while five jail guards were meted with a one-month salary fine over the escape of a well-known drug personality here two months ago.

Gov. Victor Tanco suspended Provincial Jail warden Arjuna Yngcong and Operation officer Rodolfo Cereneo for two months.

In its order dated November 22, 2010, Tanco meted a one-month salary fine against jail guards Reuben Borlado, Ernesto Gonzales, Danilo Peniano, Reynaldo Asis and Celso Valencia for “neglect of duty.”

The penalty meted against the CRC officials and jail guards were based on the recommendation of Provincial Legal Office Chief Jose Villanueva.

Tanco earlier tasked Villanueva to investigate the escape of drug suspect Sulpicio “Sulping” Marcelino of Brgy. Tacas, Pontevedra town.

Dubbed as Capiz’s No. 1 drug suspect, Marcelino was captured in Montalban, Rizal province on October 16.

The suspect took advantage of the fiesta to get away unnoticed.

Senior Supt. Renato Gumban, Capiz police director, said Marcelino was captured in a joint operation of the Capiz Police Provincial Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Montalban police.

Tanco issued a memorandum imposing a 90-day preventive suspension against Yngcong and Cereneo relative to Marcelino’s escape.

He suspended Yngcong and Cereneo so they will not influence the ongoing investigation of the case, Villanueva said.

Currently, the CRC is being headed by Provincial Jail guard Sorab Dumali as officer-in-charge.

Villanueva said the recently concluded investigation will determine the liability of the five guards-on-duty during the drug suspect’s escape.

Initial investigations revealed hints that jail guards had lapses in their job, he said.

Marcelino, 54, was detained for illegal drug possession following a raid in May 3, 2007.

He is facing two more drug-related cases in Iloilo province, reports said./PN