Drug suspect Jun No escaped when no one was looking —probe report

High-profile drug suspect Jun No waited for the security officer of East Avenue Medical Center to conduct a routine check on patients, and when no one was looking, he escaped.

This was based on the explanation report and security guard Armin Ricamata's statement given to the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) on the suspect's escape on Saturday, April 15.

Ricamata recounted that he arrived at his post at 5:45 a.m. of April 15. Then he conducted a routine census on the patients.

Prior to his rounds, he said he saw No in handcuffs lying in his bed—with another drug suspect Darleen Son—inside one of the rooms in Ward 1.

No’s escort Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency intelligence officer Ernie Eugenio was also inside the room while the other escort, SPO2 Michael Macarubbo, was supposedly eating breakfast outside.

Ricamata said he finished the rounds at about 6 a.m. and returned to his post in front of Ward 1. After several minutes, he left his post to re-check a patient inside the room adjacent to that of Jun No’s.

Upon his return at around 6:10 a.m., Ricamata said PDEA's Eugenio approached him to ask if he saw Jun No go out, to which he replied "no."

Ricamata said they immediately searched the premises for No.

“May lumapit sa akin na nagmamagandang loob na isang bantay ng pasyente at sinabing, ‘Hinintay ka lang niyang pumasok sa kanang kuwarto saka siya sumalisi palabas ng Ward 1,’” Ricamata said.

He said Eugenio, Macarubbo, and his security officer all went to the CCTV monitor room to check the footage.

The footage confirmed patient watcher's statement that Jun No just waited for the security guard to leave and escaped.

A report of the security agency to the hospital stated “a review of the CCTV footage showed that Jun No left Ward 1 at 6:04 a.m. and reached the main lobby at 6:06 a.m. gaining access to the main gate by walking fast with his handcuffed arms covered.”

Charges have been filed against Eugenio and Macarrubo and even Son. 

At a press conference last Monday, PNP-DEG spokesperson Supt. Enrico Rigor said that there was negligence on the part of Eugenio and Macarrubo for not tying No to his bed using handcuffs.

He said that the security personnel assigned to No had been briefed that the suspect should be "handcuffed at all times" while confined at the hospital.

Three special operating units have been deployed to track down No.

Meanwhile, Son was charged for giving No P3,000 in cash, which No could have been used during his escape.

Jun No was arrested earlier this month for possession of 140 ecstasy tablets. Law enforcers believe the fugitive was a major supplier of party drugs in Malate area in Manila.

He was supposed to be transferred to the PDEA Headquarters at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Bicutan on April 10 when he complained of lower abdominal pain. After a series of laboratory examinations, No was transferred to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) to undergo an operation for acute appendicitis.

He was transferred to Ward 1 for lack of vacant rooms at the surgical ward on the 4th floor of EAMC. —LBG, GMA News