Charges filed vs. escaped American-Korean drug suspect's guards, companion

Charges have been filed against the companion and two police personnel guarding the American-Korean drug suspect Jun No, who escaped from custody while recuperating in a hospital over the weekend.

Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG)spokesperson Supt. Enrico Rigor said Monday they have arrested Darleen "Soeyang" Son, 24, who gave No P3,000, which they believed was used for the latter’s escape.

Son was charged with obstruction of justice, while No’s guards, SPO2 Michael Macarubbo of PNP-DEG and Intelligence Officer 2 Eugenio Eugenio of Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (pdea) are now facing charges for evasion through negligence. 

The Quezon City Prosecutors Office recommended P200,000 bail for Son while P6,000 bail each for Macarubbo and Eugenio.

“That was the negligence of the two guards, they did not handcuff him on his bed,” Rigor said in a press conference.

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.

Asked if they think that two guards are enough to cover a high-profile suspect, he answered in the affirmative.

“We do not condone the negligence done by our men so they will face the full extent of [the] law. Two guards are more than adequate. Unfortunately, the guards went complacent,” he said.

The guards manning No, comprised of PNP DEG and PDEA personnel,  worked on 12-hour shifts.

Rigon, meanwhile, said that the two guards could not have been bribed by No.

“It’s improbable that the money will be used to pay the guards kasi nung na-confine siya wala siyang kapera pera because it’s SOP na lahat ng papers ng tao naka-custody sa arresting officers,” he said, citing that No only had P3,000 with him at the time of his hospital confinement.

Rigor said the two immediately surrendered themselves to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group which is now conducting investigation on the incident.

He said closed-circuit television footage showed that No went out of the hospital alone.

Rigor said No escaped at 6:10 a.m. last April 15 from East Avenue Medical Center, where he was confined after undergoing an operation for acute appendicitis on April 10.

He said Macarubbo went out to eat breakfast. Eugenio, meanwhile, fell asleep.

“Initially kumain yung SPO2 at nakatulog naman si IO2,” he said.

He said No was supposed to be transferred to the PDEA Quezon City Jail Annex in Bicutan on April 10 when he complained of lower abdominal pain. After a series of laboratory examination, No was transferred to EAMC for the operation.

Whereabouts known

Rigor revealed that they already have a lead on No's possible hiding place, but declined to provide details.

He asked the public to help locate No whom he believed is still within Metro Manila due to his physical condition. 

“Yes, may lead na tayo but for operational purposes, we can’t divulge,” he said.

He asked the public to help the authorities in recapturing the American-Korean suspect.

“We ask the televiewers for any information that you can give us in order to recapture him will be welcomed,” he said.

He added that No would not be able to leave Metro Manila because of his present physical condition.

“Definitely he needed antibiotics, actually ‘di pa siya pwedeng kumain ng solid foods…With his present medical condition that negates the possibility of him getting far,” he said.

People can call 911 or 09989992286 if they have information about No.

“To the parents out there, it is imperative that Jun No be recaptured,” he said.

He said No is a major drug party supplier in Malate, Manila area.

“Jun No is a major supplier of drugs in the Malate area. He is likewise involved in prostitution and some of his clients are fellow Koreans who are also fugitives. He is one of those responsible for the proliferation of drugs in parties,” he said.

He warned No’s friends not to come to his aid.

“To the friends of Jun No who might help him hide, it is better that you don’t. As earlier shown, we have filed a case against Darleen Son and we will not hesitate to do that,” he said.

Rigor also appealed to No to surrender. 

“It is better that you surrender yourself because very soon the long arms of the law will catch up with you lalo lalong na sa kalagayan niya na kelangan niya ng medical attention. It is better that he give up,” he said. — TJD/ALG, GMA News