Manhunt launched for American who escaped from Davao detention

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration has launched a manhunt for an American national who escaped the agency’s detention facility in Davao City over the weekend.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison also ordered an investigation on how Douglas Brent Jackson, an accused in theft and estafa cases, managed to escape.

Initial investigation showed that Jackson used a steel blade to cut off part of the window grill in the confinement area, which allowed him to escape through the building’s second floor.

The steel blade used by Jackson could have been discreetly kept among the food items given to him by his visitors, authorities said.

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said initial findings suggested that Jackson planned his escape with the help of someone inside the bureau.

Tan said that all visitors of detainees inside the facility would have to undergo stricter security protocols.

“Commissioner Mison has issued a directive to conduct an intensive investigation on the incident. We will make sure all personnel who may have a hand on the escape are meted the appropriate sanctions,” Tan said in a statement.

She said Mison likewise ordered a lockdown and a stricter enforcement of detention rules following the escape.

“We will beef-up security in our holding centers to make sure no similar incident will happen in the future,” Tan said.

Jackson was issued a summary deportation order on August 29, 2014 for being a fugitive in the USA for theft.

The deportation order was not immediately implemented because of his pending criminal case in Davao for estafa. He was transferred to the holding facility in Davao in order to facilitate the processes of the criminal case and to expedite actual deportation.