Manhunt launched for suspect who escaped from police escorts

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. on Friday ordered the police intelligence community to lead a manhunt for escaped robbery suspect Pedro Rodica and the eight men who sprang him while en route to the Quezon City Jail - and to match their force with force. But Razon, in a statement on the PNP website, also said the three police escorts will be investigated even if they initially claimed they were outnumbered and outgunned. "The immediate priority action is to re-capture the suspect and account for his armed accomplices. I am putting to task all the intelligence and investigation services of the PNP to field their operatives for this manhunt operation, and to mobilize the Barangay Information Networks to gather more information that will assist investigators," Razon said. At least eight heavily armed men blocked the path of a police car carrying Rodica (not Reodica as initially reported) and three police escorts in Cubao, Quezon City Friday morning. Razon said a metrowide dragnet operation is underway along possible escape routes to intercept the suspects. "Orders have been issued to apply reasonable force on the suspects if they will resist arrest," he said. "The amount of firepower and degree of force employed by the armed suspects who freed Rodica suggests that the group is extremely dangerous. I am leaving it to the discretion of concerned PNP unit commanders to apply the appropriate police action and tactical response to neutralize these suspects," he added. On the other hand, he said a full-dress investigation is being conducted under Quezon City police chief Sr. Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula to establish the circumstances behind the incident. The initial observation was that the three police escorts were obviously outnumbered and outgunned by the eight suspects who were armed with assault weapons. "(But) the investigation will seek to look beyond these initial findings, and perhaps review the actions of the concerned police personnel and units involved vis-à-vis our Police Operational Procedures," Razon said. He also admitted the incident was "unfortunate" and "leaves a dent in the best interest of justice." "But the PNP will not let this pass, the long arm of the law will soon catch up with Rodica," he said. - GMANews.TV