The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is set to investigate, in aid of legislation, an incident wherein a detainee of the Bohol District Jail managed to escape while attending a hearing on a rape case filed against him in court, but was a recaptured 30 minutes later. 

This is upon the privilege speech of Board Member Tomas Abapo Jr. during the SP’s regular session last Friday wherein Abapo lamented the incident as he questioned how the inmate got an opportunity to escape while in court.

Abapo noted that the courtroom has only one door for entrance and exit, and yet the inmate was able to escape during the hearing.

The matter was referred to the SP Committee on Public Accountability for investigation in aid of legislation to prevent any similar incident in the future.

Abapo was referring to the incident where 31-year-old Renato Dico, a resident of Clarin town and BDJ detainee facing rape charges, managed to flee from the courtroom at around 11:45 a.m. on March 21. 

However, his flight just stretched up to four kilometers from the courtroom at the Hall of Justice to the area near the Development Bank of the Philippines when aborted by police officers.

Pursuing cops had subdued him after PO2 Marlon Hinay of the San Isidro Police Station who assisted jail guards was forced to shot him, hitting him in the body, foot and genitals.

According to police report, Dico, was allegedly armed with a knife and resisted arrest, prompting the cops to shoot him.

For his part, BDJ OIC-Warden Felipe Montejo said Dico was escorted by three jail guards inside the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 where he attended the hearing of his case.

 Montejo said that Dico was not handcuffed as he was already inside the courtroom.

 He just suddenly left in haste, past the jail guards on his way out of the Hall of Justice building.

The BDJ jail guards and cops present in the area spotted him, then immediately pursued him, and cornered him shortly near the DBP compound after a 30-minute chase.

Montejo also said BDJ Prison Guard-1 Rogelio Besinga and two other BDJ jail guards were escorting Dico and 20 other BDJ detainees for their court appearances in different courtrooms that morning.

Dico is now recuperating at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City under tight security.

Montejo said Dico will be facing sanctions for his attempted escape.

The BDJ warden believes that Dico might have grown desperate due to marital issues with his wife.