CITY OF MALOLOS—The Commission on Election (Comelec) had already issued a clearance for Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando to install an Officer-In-Charge (OIC) in the Bulacan Provincial Jail after the top ranking official of the facility has been suspended for reportedly allowing high ranking inmates to regularly go out of the facility and stay with his family.
Comelec Region 3 assistant regional director Elmo Duque said on Wednesday that the regional election office had already issued on Tuesday a clearance to Fernando to proceed installing an OIC after their office had earlier approved the governor’s preventive suspension order against Bulacan Provincial Jail Warden Rizalino Andaya.
The Comelec prohibits the transfer or movement of government officers and employees within the Jan. 12 – June 11 election period.
On April 16, Fernando sought Comelec’s clearance to suspend Andaya for allegedly allowing Abdua Harim Arajalon, the chieftain of all the inmates inside the provincial jail and Mario San Jose, chairman of Barangay 11 or the Sputnik Gang to leave the jail facility and go home to his (Arajalon) house in Barangay Dakila in City of Malolos.
Fernando eventually also sought Comelec’s clearance to install an OIC warden.
At about 5 pm on April 13, Arajalon, San Jose and Provincial Guard (PG1) Teejay Jimenez were arrested by elements of Bulacan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on board a colored red Toyota Hilux a few meters away to the chieftain’s house in Barangay Dakila.
Sarah Wahid, wife of Arajalon was also arrested.
The CIDG troops trailed Arajalon, San Jose, Jimenez and Wahid on board the said vehicle when it left the parking area of the Bulacan Provincial Jail at around 4:30pm bound to the chieftain’s house in Dakila.
The CIDG recovered one .45 calibre and one 9mm pistol, one respective magazine for the two firearms, live ammunition and holster, based on reports that reached the office of Fernando.
Lt. Col. Milgrace Driz, chief of the Bulacan CIDG said that Arajalon and San Jose were charged with illegal possession of firearms in relation with the Omnibus Election Code and evasion of sentence while Jimenez was charged with graft and corrupt practices. Wahid was charged with violation of Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) which involves delivering prisoners from jail or helping them escape, before the Bulacan Prosecutors Office on April 14. “This can be done by removing a person from a jail or penal establishment or by assisting in their escape, which may involve providing materials or means that facilitate escape,” Driz said.
Driz also said that Jimenez and Wahid both posted fixed bail on April 16.
The four individuals leave the jail facility and go home to Arajalon’s house 2-3 times a week, Driz said. Their arrest came, after weeks of surveillance, Driz added.
Fernando told the media that the Bulacan Provincial Legal Office and the Bulacan Provincial Human Resources Office are also conducting parallel investigations about the incident. He said, the result of the provincial government’s probe and the investigation conducted by the CIDG will be his solid basis to render stiff sanction and action against Andaya and Jimenez.
Arajalon, from Jolo, Sulu is a former Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) member of the Bulacan Provincial Police who had been jailed since 2019 for murder charges. San Jose was charged with homicide, while Jimenez is a son of one of the drivers of the governor.
“Andaya lied to me. He called me up that night and told me a different story, that’s why I called our provincial legal office and our provincial administrator to conduct an investigation. I told my driver that his son had to face the consequences of his action. I do not know what they are doing and I will not tolerate any of such illegal moves. They need to face the charges against them. After the election period, they better resign because I do not want such actions and illegal moves. We are awarded 8 times, Seal of Local Good Governance not for this kind of work,” Fernando said before the Comelec’s clearance to suspend Andaya.
“We will look for a better person for the job to be an OIC who will not conspire with the criminal works inside the jail, will not be involved in illegal drugs and whatever anomaly. I can never forgive them and tolerate their ill actions,” the governor also said.
