Judiciary worried over jailbreaks • Demapan says justices, judges are potential targets of attacks By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN Staff Reporter

Predicting the likelihood of another jailbreak taking place in the future, Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan has asked Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram to send prompt alarm to the judiciary to ensure that court magistrates are prepared to protect themselves from possible attacks by the jailbreakers.

Demapan said judges and justices, being the ones who send convicts to jail, are potential targets of attacks by inmates who dash out of the corrections facility.

The most recent escape incident had prompted Demapan to write to Ingram.

The Oct. 10 jailbreak, involving convicted murderer Shawn Appleby, and robbery suspects Jeronimo Ada and Melvin Basa, was the fourth under Ingram’s administration.

What was considered the worst jailbreak in the history of the Commonwealth took place last February, which was followed by a prison siege several days after the eight jailbreakers where rearrested.

Demapan told Ingram that after the “inmates takeover” last February, “I had intended to write a similar request, but decided against it to give you more time to address the department’s security problems.”

“In the future,” Demapan wrote, “I strongly request that your office provide me with updated briefings on the status of any events that could potentially compromise our safety.”

The chief justice said escape incidents put court officials and employees in vulnerable positions considering the proximity of the jail house to Guma Husticia complex.

“Additionally, my primary safety concerns during these pernicious times are directed toward the justices and judges who have incarcerated the escapees/hostage takers in the first place,” Demapan said.

Demapan asked Ingram to promptly brief the judiciary on the status of the Department of Public Safety’s operations in the event that another jailbreak occurs.

“Immediate briefing would provide us important information which is necessary in coordinating efforts for security to our building and staff in the Guma Husticia complex,” Demapan said. “Knowing vital information is imperative for our safety.”

The three inmates who escaped on Oct. 10 were rearrested and charged accordingly in the Superior Court last week.

Appleby is serving a 40-year sentence for killing a Korean businessman in 1996. Ada and Basa were among seven persons awaiting trial for 37 counts of criminal charges including robbery, kidnapping, illegal carrying of firearm, assault and battery, among others, in connection with the July shooting and robbing spree that caused injuries to several victims and destruction to several properties in Koblerville.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio last week instructed DPS to implement corrective measures to prevent another jailbreak.