6 guards charged over Pangasinan jailbreak

Six guards were slapped administrative charges Friday for the escape of two inmates from the Pangasinan Provincial Jail last June 1.

The six face administrative charges for gross neglect of duty, GMA Dagupan’s Joanne Ponsoy reported.

“They are still in the provincial jail but of course their functions are somehow restricted,” said Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued.

Charged administratively were:

The charges stemmed from the escape of Ronnie Zarate, who faces three charges of carjacking and a murder case; and Rogelio Garcia, who faces charges for illegal selling of firearms. Garcia has been recaptured.

Investigation showed Zarate and Garcia escaped from the jail at about 6 a.m. Monday and boarded a van.

But the van driver, who became suspicious of the two, drove toward the San Carlos City police office, prompting the two to flee. Garcia was caught.

Warden absolved

On the other hand, Baniqued said they found “no substantial circumstance” to charge jail warden retired Col. Rolando Diaz administratively.

Diaz declined to comment, but said he is doing his job. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News