The cop linked to the killing of a Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan board member and his driver has been declared AWOL or absent without official leave, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday, October 21, 2024.

In a report on GMA News Online, Police Staff Sergeant Ulysses Hernani Castro Pascual was considered AWOL after he escaped from PNP custody in Camp Crame, Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing.

“Effective October 10, dineclare na po siya as a AWOL. So ongoing pa po yung paghahanap ko sa kanya but we have to understand na hindi natin siya maaresto po sa ngayon dahil wala pa pong warrant of arrest,” Fajardo said.

(Effective October 10, he was declared AWOL. So the search for him is still ongoing, but we have to understand that we cannot arrest him right now because there is no arrest warrant yet.)

“But doon sa kaso niya particularly sa pag-disregard po niya a restrictive custody, definitely po he will be facing administrative charges for violation po ng existing administrative policy po ng PNP,” she added.

(But in his case particularly for his disregard of the restrictive custody, he will definitely be facing administrative charges for violation of the existing administrative policy of the PNP.)

On October 3, Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan board member Ramilito Capistrano, who is also the head of Association of Barangay Captains in Bulacan, and his driver Shedrick Toribio, were inside their vehicle when the suspects shot them in Malolos City.

The four suspects including Pascual and his cousin Cesar Mayoralgo Gallardo Jr. and their accomplices “Jeff” and “Lupin” are facing murder and attempted murder charges.

Pascual managed to escape from PNP's restrictive custody after the police officer who was guarding him allowed him to go home.

(via Joviland Rita, GMA Integrated News)