15 inmates bolt Calbayog City jail

CALBAYOG CITY, SAMAR, Philippines — At least 15 inmates and one convicted detainee, facing various heinous charges, managed to escape from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Sub-provincial Jail located in the outskirt village of Gadgaran, this city, yesterday morning.

Superintendent Elmer Cinco, Calbayog City Police chief, confirmed the jailbreak to the media and told that a hot pursuit operation was immediately conducted in at least three possible northward routes believed to have taken in by the escapees, based on witnesses' accounts.

Initial information gathered by The Freeman showed that the inmates managed to stage the jailbreak while a religious group was conducting a "Bible Study" inside the jail at around 9 a.m. yesterday.

"They were able to take with them two M16 Armalite rifles, a shotgun and a 9mm pistol, which were apparently taken from the jailguards," Cinco said.

BJMP warden, Inspector Gusser Gadong, has yet to issue a press statement while pursuit operations were still in progress. He did not allow the local media to enter the BJMP premises.

From police sources, however, The Freeman gathered the identity of the escapees with the corresponding cases they were facing while in jail:

Dindo Calagos and Romeo Coligado, each accused of rape; Romeo Pinote (rape and attempted rape); Nelwin Juanerio, Edwin Abria, Malix Lucente, Efren Pante, Ian Pante, Romeo Carpio and Gerry Dealagdon (each for murder); Crisanto delos Reyes (frustrated murder); Joey Agas and Dante Helilio (each for highway robbery); and Roel Cuanico and Freddie Cagomoc (each for robbery).

The 15th jailbreaker was Roberto "Boboy" Pintuan who was already convicted of rape in Relation to RA 7610 & Violation of RA 7610.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, hot pursuit operations were still in progress with operatives of the PNP-Regional Mobile Group and the Philippine Army, together with BJMP-Region 8 officials, on their way to this city to investigate the jailbreak incident. (FREEMAN)