ZAMBOANGA CITY – Seven suspects, including three men arrested in a massive buy-bust operation here on May 2, escaped from the detention facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Upper Calarian, this city, on Monday, May 13.
THREE suspected drug pushers caught with P146.2-million shabu in a buy-bust operation in Zamboanga City on May 2 were among the escapees. (PDEA Regional Office IX FB)
The breakout was reportedly discovered at 2:45 a.m. by PDEA jail guard Norbert Mendola who alerted PDEA agent and duty officer Jierzy Anne Rafer about the incident.
Mendola said that only one detainee remained inside the detention cell.
PDEA personnel searched the facility and found a hole above the ceiling which was suspected to have been used by the suspects in their escape.
Three of the escapees were suspects in the P146.2-million buy-bust operation conducted by the PDEA last May 3, the biggest in the history of the Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9.
They were identified as Wilson S. Indanan, Junjimar Hajili Aiyob, and Jimmy A. Sahibol.
Escapee Kerwin M. Abdila was identified as a San Ramon Penal Colony detainee who was arrested last April 9 while selling drugs just outside the gate of the facility. He escaped together with his cohort, Albadir M. Ajijiul.
Amil Khan M. Abubasar and Muhajiran R. Jumlah were the suspects in a P13.6-million drug bust in a parking lot of a fastfood outlet on Nuñez Extension last March 2.
PDEA and the police are conducting a manhunt to arrest the escapees.