BACOLOD CITY – Manhunt operation is ongoing for the arrest of five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who escaped from the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City on Tuesday, June 29.
Escapees were identified as Marvin Celeste, Alejandro Montoya, and Danilo Celeste, all residents of Victorias City; Daniel Tamon of Don Salvador Benedicto town; and Francisco Epogon of Cauayan town.
Marvin had a case for illegal possession of firearms, while Montoya is facing charges for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, attempted homicide, and acts of lasciviousness.
Danilo was charged for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted homicide; while Tamon is facing charges for murder.
Epogon, who was reportedly linked to notorious Epogon robbery group in the province, has cases for robbery with violation against intimidation of person, and robbery with homicide.
According to Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6, these escapees were considered high-risk because of their cases.
These PDLs, fled from the jail around 1:20 a.m. However, Dogelio said they could not established yet if these PDLs cut the steel bar of their detention cell, as there were no weapons recovered.
“It’s still not conclusive if they did the cutting of the steel bar,” he added.
Dogelio said the escapees tied their clothes and used it to climb the wall.
“Their way out was a blind spot for the jail officers because the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera was not able to capture them,” he added.
Dogelio said the BJMP has already coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to track the escapees.
Following the incident, Dogelio said Superintendent Prizel Arevalo, NODJ warden was relieved from his post effective today as part of the procedure.
Arevalo was replaced by Chief Inspector Abner Zamora, who is already assigned to NODJ.
Meanwhile, Dogelio said the on-duty jail guards will be subjected to investigation to determine if there were lapses on their part.