4 inmates bolt Batangas jail

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Authorities are hunting down four inmates who escaped from the Lipa City police detention cell in Batangas yesterday.

Four police officers were sacked from their posts after the inmates – identified as Rommel Endaya, Jonathan Jimenez, Marvin Inciong and Alvin Masupil – escaped by destroying the ceiling of their cell, according to Superintendent Bernand Dasugo, city police chief.

The jailbreak, discovered during the headcount of inmates at around 2:30 a.m., resulted in the relief of Senior Inspector Domingo Ballesteros , Senior Police Officers 2 Cleofe Pera and Jayson Luna and PO1 Daniel Cascante.

A tracker team has been formed to hunt down the escapees, believed to be hiding in the province.

“We will recommend to the local government and the command to help us improve the jail facility to prevent a repeat of the incident,” Dasugo said.