It was a short-lived taste of freedom for five inmates who bolted the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail facility in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental early Monday.
The five inmates were either recaptured or had voluntarily surrendered to police after learning that they were being hunted.
The two inmates who voluntarily surrendered last Friday night were Janly Callao, 29 of Tayasan and Ronnie Flores, 25,of Nagbalaye Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
On the other hand, Julan dela Cruz Paculanang, 30; Joseph Balderas Casido, 24; and Lito Cayetano Pedro, 49, all natives of Negros Oriental, were captured by combined forces from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police at various locations on Friday and Saturday.
Apparently, all five inmates fled together northward and stayed for a few days in Tayasan, where they decided to take separate paths.
Casido and Paculanang surrendered to the Tayasan Police Station at 10 a.m. Friday. While the others were arrested by a combined team of Manjuyod BJMP personnel led by JS1 Rolly Duran Bandeling and the Philippine National Police led by Tayasan PNP OIC PLT Tommy Tan later that day.
Provincial police director, Col. Julian Entoma in a telephone interview said the escapees were considered high-risk personalities considering the cases they are facing.
Calunsod, Dela Cruz, and Cayetano are facing rape charges, while Flores is charged with illegal possession of firearms and Casido, with murder.
The escape was discovered during the regular headcount of the Manjuyod District Jail last Monday around 7 a.m.
The suspects appeared to have escaped by destroying the ceiling/roof of their detention cell although jail authorities are still conducting further investigation on the incident. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
