In a message to reporters, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI is expected to submit a report today about the incident. He also instructed the bureau to intensify its intelligence work.
In a statement, NBI officer-in-charge director Eric Distor said that the Security Management Section immediately acted upon receiving information on the planned escape of the three prisoners.
“On the same night, they immediately conducted an inspection of the jail. In one of the cells, the raiding team of agents observed a deformed exhaust fan, which when removed, exposed a hole fit for a detainee to escape,” the statement read.
Following the incident, Distor said that security measures has been tightened with regular inspection of all jail facilities.
The NBI earlier filed a complaint before the Department of Justice against Espinosa and 25 others, including his alleged police coddlers.
Espinosa is the son of former Albuera, Leyte mayor Roland Espinosa, Sr. The ex-mayor was arrested over charges of illegal possession of dangerous drugs and firearms in 2016. Both father and son were tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte in his list of alleged illegal drug coddlers and traffickers.
In the same year, the younger Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi, while mayor Espinosa was killed in a shootout in his jail cell.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) —The National Bureau of Investigation said Monday it has foiled the escape attempt of self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa and two others from the bureau’s detention center last January 13.
