EIGHT detainees, most of them facing illegal drug charges, bolted the San Jose del Monte City police station in Bulacan last Sunday but four were later recaptured.
The Bulacan police provincial office said the eight detainees escaped by sawing the steel window of their cell.
The eight were identified as Jorency Revise, 29; Richard Torillos, 46; Arturo Conde, 40; Aaron Capa, 26; Jose Albert Rojas, 24; Jeffrey Santos, 38; Glenmir Ian Aguilar, 42; and Edcel Briones, 29, all residents of Bulacan.
Torillos, Conde, Capa, Rojas, Santos, and Aguilar are facing charges of illegal drugs with Torillos facing an additional case of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Revise and Briones are facing robbery and arson charges, respectively.
Police said the jailbreak was discovered by a custodial officer at around 3 a.m. last Sunday. An investigation is ongoing to determine how the steel saw was smuggled into the detention facility.
Manhunt operations led to the re-arrest of Revise, Aguilar and Briones near or inside their homes, according to investigator-on-case M/Sgt. Rod Panting.
Efforts are underway to locate the four others — Torillos, Capa, Rojas and Santos.
“Efforts to apprehend the remaining escapees are ongoing, with a coordinated dragnet operation and flash alarm issued to the Bulacan Provincial Tactical Operations Center,” the Bulacan police said.
It assured the public that all measures are being taken for the recapture of the remaining escapees and urged the public to report to the San Jose Del Monte City police station if they are aware of the suspects’ whereabouts, through cell phone numbers 09989673210 and 09985985395.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, said the custodial officer on duty and his immediate superior officer were relieved.
Fajardo said the two will be investigated for possible negligence.
“The custodial facility officer on duty and his immediate supervisor were relieved to give way to the investigation that will be conducted to determine if there was negligence, leading to the escape of the eight persons under police custody,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo warned relatives and friends of the four at-large escapees against coddling the suspects, saying: “If it is proven you coddled a fugitive, charges may be filed against you.”
