Member of Parliament (MP) Cesar Valente had criticized the National Police of East Timor (PNTL) for its failure to recapture two Becora prison inmates who escaped the facility last year.
Escapee Juga Gama was serving a sentence for drug-related offences while Alcino Mendes was serving time for murder when the pair escaped on November 3.
MP Valente said PNTL had failed in its duties.
“I say fail, because they have been outside for a long time,” he Valente said.
MP Valente questioned why national intelligence agencies such as G2 had not been used in the search for the two inmates.
“I am really concerned about police intelligence services; why are they not functioning,” he asked.
He challenged PNTL to explain why the prisoners had not been recaptured.
“What exactly were the police’s difficulties?” he asked.
PNTL operations commander Superintendent Armando Monteiro said officers were still searching for the escapees.
“We are working with traditional elders, veterans and village leaders,” he said.
Superintendent Monteiro said police faced staffing and equipment shortages.
He said PNTL was doing everything in its power to find the men and asked for patience from communities and government institutions.
