A person deprived of liberty (PDL), who escaped from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro last March 3, was recaptured on Thursday morning, March 5.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the escapee, PDL Tyrone Dela Cruz, was arrested by members of the SPPF’s Emergency Response Team in Sitio Idarag, Barangay Sta. Lucia in Sablayan town.
Dela Cruz has been serving a jail term since 2015 for kidnap for ransom. He was transferred to the custody of the BuCor in SPPF in 2017.
The BuCor said that Dela Cruz was captured after the bureau received information that an unidentified man stole a motorcycle.
The information prompted the response team to conduct a hot pursuit operation that led to the arrest of Dela Cruz, it said.
In a statement, the BuCor said it is investigating the escape and has relieved four corrections officers at the SPPF.
Those relieved were identified by BuCor as CO3 Jon Jon Edic, CO1 Nelbert Moro, CO1 Lexter Gonzales, and CO1 Lionel Darrold Orandain.
“As the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding Dela Cruz's escape, BuCor officials are collaborating with local law enforcement to gather additional information,” the BuCor said.
Catapang warned PDLs: “Let this serve as a warning to all persons deprived of liberty: attempts to escape will not succeed. We will track you down and bring you back to justice.”