POLICE operatives arrested 10 inmates who escaped from the Batangas Provincial Rehabilitation Center (BPRC) in Ibaan town in Batangas last Monday morning.
Three of them, identified as alias Cesar, Zieg, and Bob, were nabbed during a hot pursuit operation at 10:44 a.m. last Monday in Sitio Burol, Barangay Coliat, Ibaan town.
The five others were intercepted on board a passenger bus along the STAR Tollway at the boundary of Tanauan town and Sto Tomas City, both in Batangas, at around 1:30 p.m., also on Monday.
They were identified only as alias Armando, Norman, Dennis, Michael, and Lester.
Seized from them were a 9mm pistol, rounds of ammunition, a magazine, a knife, keys, and cash amounting to P59,673.
The 9th escapee, identified as Loreto, was nabbed at around 7:30 p.m. Monday in Barangay Salaban in Ibaan town.
The last, identified as Gerald, was apprehended in Barangay Manghinao in Bauan town in Batangas at around 10 a.m. yesterday.
The 10 escaped from the BPRC in Barangay Malainin in Ibaan at around 9:30 a.m. last Monday, the Calabarzon police regional office said.
Police said some of the suspects threatened a jail guard who was accompanying them to a public utility room with an ice pick.
One of them took the guard’s firearm and used it to threaten the guard.
Other inmates joined the escape, bringing the total to 10.
The escapees were facing charges of murder, kidnapping, direct assault, homicide, robbery and drug-related offenses.
Calabarzon police regional office director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky commended the policemen for the swift arrest of the escapees.
“The swift actions of our policemen are a manifestation of their dedication and skill,” said Wanky.
“We are not going to be complacent when it comes to peace and order in our region,” Wanky also said.
