BY Ashzel Hachero and Noel Talacay
MUNTINLUPA City police yesterday said two of the three inmates who escaped from the New Bilibid Prison yesterday Monday morning were shot dead during manhunt operations.
Police identified the two as Pacifico Villaruz, 49, who is serving time for frustrated homicide and illegal drugs; and Arwin Villeza Bio, 35, who has been convicted of murder.
The third escapee, Drakilou Yosores Falcon, 34, serving time for robbery with homicide, is considered “armed and dangerous.”
Bucor spokesman Gabriel Chalag asked the public to help in Falcon’s arrest by calling hotline numbers 09178049362 and 09186001081.
Chaclag also confirmed the report of the Muntinlupa police and added some guards at the penitentiary sustained minor injuries after they were shot by the three while trying to escape.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he will recommend to President Duterte that disciplinary actions be imposed against BuCor officials found negligent, adding he has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation on the incident.
Chaclag said prison guards Angelito Marquez, 57; Mark Joseph Dela Cruz Pesons, 29; Jancy Sabali Dagonas sustained injuries while another inmate, identified as Michael Valencia Dullavin, was also hurt.
Chaclag said Villaruz succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained when he tried to fight it out with operatives.
“The escapee who was neutralized was identified as Pacifico Villaruz Adlawan. A 9 mm pistol with live bullets and spent shells was recovered near the dead PDL (Person Deprived of Liberty),” Chaclag said.
The escape is the latest incident to rock the national penitentiary this year. Last January 2, three inmates were killed and 14 others were injured in a riot at the NBP’s maximum security compound.
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday said it has foiled an escape attempt from its detention facility of alleged drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa and two others.
NBI Acting Director Eric Distor said the incident took place last January 13 when the bureau’s Security Management Section received information that Espinosa and the two other detainees were planning to escape.
Distor said the information they received indicated that the detainees are planning to flee through the hole of an exhaust fan of the ceiling in their detention cell.
The official did not identify the two detainees who would have fled with Espinosa.
He said they have already tightened security measures at the detention facility to prevent detainees from escaping.
Espinosa and his father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., former mayor of Albuera town in Leyte, were hunted by authorities after President Duterte launched his bloody crackdown against the illegal drugs trade in 2016.
The elder Espinosa was jailed in Leyte but was killed inside his detention cell later that year by policemen out to serve a warrant for his arrest for allegedly keeping a firearm in his cell.
The younger Espinosa is detained at the NBI detention facility over other pending non-bailable drug charges.
