BULACAN GOVERNOR DID NOT SUSPEND JAIL WARDEN?

Murder detainee’s lavish lifestyle inside Bulacan Provincial Jail a scandal

On May 4, 2025

Ang 'photo collage' ng pagkakahuli ng PRO3 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) nitong Abril 13, 2025, sa Malolos City, sa labas ng Bulacan Provincial Jail, kina Abdua Hasim Arajalon, detained for murder and Mario Mariano San Jose Jr., nakakulong sa kasong homicide.

BULACAN Governor Daniel Fernando is accused of “muddling” the main issue in the province ahead of the midterm elections by focusing on the complaints against the bad services of the Villar-owned Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (Prime Water) instead of coming out clean on the scandalous arrest by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last April 13 of two hardened criminals outside the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

At a news forum in Quezon City last May 3, Orlan Mauricio, Bulacan resident and lifetime member of the National Press Club (NPC), who has been covering the province most of his entire life, said Fernando’s attempt to take credit for the order of President Marcos Jr. to investigate Prime Water is not the pressing issue worrying Bulacan residents.

Throwback. Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando with Vice Governor Alexis Castro, posing with then Bulacan Provincial Jail Warden Ret. P/LT COL Marcos C. Rivero. Besides Fernando is Rivcro’s replacement, Ret. P/LT COL Rizalino A. Andaya, who is being linked to the scandalous ‘living out’ of hardened criminals without approval from the court. The event is during the awarding of the BJMPRO-III’s BEST 2022 Special Award to the BPJ given by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office III (from the FB post of Fernando’s office, October 6, 2022).

He noted that due to mounting complaints for its bad services and unfulfilled contractual obligations not only in Bulacan but in other parts of the country as well, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed at a Palace briefing on April 30 that President Marcos Jr. ordered a probe on Prime Water.

Mauricio said the main worry by residents is the discovery that hardened criminals like Abdua Hasim Arajalon, detained since 2019 after being convicted for murder, and Mario Mariano San Jose Jr., detained for homicide, are practically ‘living out’ prisoners from the facility without court approval as they were arrested by elements from the CIDG Regional Office while staying at a house in Purok 3, Bgy. Dakila, Malolos City.

The Bulacan Provincial Jail, also located in Malolos City, is directly under the office of Fernando under the supervision of retired police colonel Rizalino Andaya.

Also arrested were Jail Guard Teejay Libiran Jimenez and Sarah Caytano Wahid, the wife of Arajalon. A Toyota Hilux (DBP 4085) owned by Arajalon that he reportedly purchased only last December while in prison and two pistols loaded with ammunition were also recovered by the arresting team headed by PMSg. Rizelle Dianco.

All are now under the custody of the CIDG.

A clip from a social media post showing a very happy Abdua Hasim Arajalon holding lots of P1,000 bills. Arajalon remains detained at the Bulacam Provincial Jail despite conviction for murder in 2019.

‘Yung tubig, kahit paano, makakabili ka kahit saan, mabubuhay ka pa, pero ‘yung may gumagalang mga kriminal, walang ligtas na mamamayan, isang bala ka lang,” Mauricio pointed out. Mauricio is facing a libel case from Fernando for hinting the governor cannot father a child (“baog”). He also previously served as president of the Bulacan PNP Press Corps.

A copy of the reply dated April 22 by COMELEC Central Luzon Regional Director Atty, Temie Lambino to a request of Fernando is also vague on whether Andaya was actually suspended by Fernando.

At a later press briefing, Fernando, referring to the COMELEC’s reply said he has already “suspended” Andaya, Jimenez and two other jail guards linked to the scandal, as reported by the Manila Bulletin on April 28.

However, what Lambino merely approved is the transfer of Manuel Lucban Jr., head of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to the Provincial Civil Security and Jai Management Office (PCSJMO), presently held by Andaya. No mention was made of Andaya’s present status.

Fernando also failed to divulge if any investigation on the culpability of Andaya has been made.

Mauricio, who also lives in Malolos City, said his neighbors “swear” they saw Andaya “jogging around” every morning, showing no concern regarding the scandal.

Unsolved violent crimes; lavish lifestyle of detainees

Last October 3, 2024, Bulacan Board Member Ramil Capistrano and his driver were killed at an ambush in Malolos City near a police block while three people were killed last March 21 when their vehicle was peppered with M16 bullets by unknown gunmen in Bgy. Capihan, San Rafael.

Arajalon proudly posing with his brand-new Toyota SUV after a carwash outside the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Both acts of violence remain unsolved, and which placed Bulacan in the ‘Yellow’ category of the COMELEC, Mauricio noted.

He said it would be wise for investigators to look into the possibility of previous recorded incidents where heinous crimes like murder are being committed by prisoners and detainees that resulted to these killings remaining unsolved.

Bulacan residents are also scandalized by the lavish lifestyle of Arajalon even while spending time inside the provincial jail, which he even posted on social media. One video post showed Arajalon dancing while holding lots of P1,000 bills.

Another photo showed Arajalon in a wide grin while his Toyota Hilux is getting a carwash clearly outside the provincial jail.

Arajalon reportedly bought the SUV pickup only last December after celebrating his birthday.