CITY OF MALOLOS—The Bulacan Provincial Jail warden and one of his personnel are now placed under preventive suspension by Gov. Daniel Fernando for reportedly allowing a high ranking inmate and its assistant to regularly have a day out of the facility and stay with his family.
In a press conference on Wednesday at the Official Residence (OR) of the governor within the Capitol grounds in this city, Fernando said he is waiting for the approval of the Commission on Election (Comelec) to put Rizalino Andaya and Provincial Guard (PG) 1 Teejay Jimenez under preventive suspension for 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 house in Barangay Dakila in City of Malolos.
The Comelec prohibits the transfer or movement of government officers and employees within the Jan. 12 – June 11 election period.
Arajalon, San Jose and 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, past 5pm on Sunday, April 13.
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.
Arajalon and San Jose are charged with illegal possession of firearms in relation with 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) involves delivering prisoners from jail or helping them escape. “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,” Bulacan CIDG Chief Lt. Col. Milgrace Driz explained.
The charged were filed before the Bulacan Prosecutors Office on Monday, April 14.
Driz said the four individuals leave the jail facility and go home to Arajalon’s house 2-3 times a week. Their arrest came, she said, after weeks of surveillance.
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.
“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, referring to his move during the end of the election period if the Comelec will not allow his request to place Andaya and Jimenez under preventive suspension.
