Pubdate: Mon, 20 Dec 2004
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Author: Bernadette E. Tamayo
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( www.pdea.gov.ph )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRUG LORD ESCAPES: PDEA ORDERS PROBE

A SUSPECTED Chinese drug trafficker, who was arrested during a raid on his 
alleged shabu laboratory in Paranaque City last October, escaped from his 
detention cell at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at dawn Saturday.

The drug suspect, Li Zhong Hong, was discovered missing by a fellow inmate 
at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The unidentified inmate reported the matter 
to a jail guard.

PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido has ordered the detention of the guard on duty, 
PO1 Frederick Placido, pending investigation by PDEA's internal affairs.

"Napaka-secure yung lugar e kaya hindi ako maniwala na doon sa maliit na 
bintana dumaan. Kaya misteryoso itong pagka-escape kaya sa galit ko nga 
kahapon e pinakulong ko na yung gwardya.  Sabi ko diyan siya magga-guwardya 
sa loob," Avenido said.

Apart from Placido, Avenido also ordered the investigation of Chief Insp. 
Dante Gacadan, the officer-in-charge, and  PO3 Orlando Duaso, who was 
supposed to be on-duty that day but did not report for work.

Placido apparently told Avenido that Li possibly climbed a six-foot high 
hole in the wall of the PDEA detention cell situated near the National 
Printing Office and National Irrigation Administration. Li reportedly cut 
the iron grills and jumped outside. But Avenido doubted the explanation for 
the escape.

Avenido suspected that somebody could have removed the exhaust fan and cut 
the iron grills to justify that Li indeed escaped through the hole, which 
Avenino said, was too small for the suspect to get through.

"When I inspected the window (space for exhaust fan), it was impossible for 
a person to get through it because it was small. Our suspicion is that, 
they are making it appear that he passed through it," said Avenido.

Avenido said they tried to re-enact the incident by asking a man of the 
same built as Li to slip through the opening on the wall and found out that 
the hole was too small for Li to get through. "I do not believe in that 
version, I have a suspicion he (Li) passed through the main door. Assuming 
that you get through there (hole for exhaust fan), you are going to fall 
three stories high," Avenido stressed.

He added that the place where Li was supposed to land after coming out of 
the hole and jumping "was a rocky creek."

"I also ordered the inspection of the area (creek) and there was no 
indication that there was a person who passed the area. I have strong 
suspicion that he passed through the main door, either in connivance with 
the guard or laxity of the guard," Avenido added.

Avenido said the PDEA has asked the PNP Crime Laboratorysubject Placido to 
a lie detector test to determine whether he is telling the truth.
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