10 PDLs escape from Batangas provincial jail; 8 recaptured in hot pursuit

• Ten persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) escaped from the Batangas Provincial Jail in Ibaan on Monday morning, after a prisoner armed with an ice pick seized a guard's firearm during an e&cort to the utility room
• Five of the escapees were recaptured after boarding a passenger bus, which was intercepted by authorities in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas
• The Batangas provincial government confirmed that eight of the 10 escapees have been rearrested, while a manhunt continues for the remaining fugitives
• Governor Vilma Santos-Recto has ordered an investigation into the jailbreak, as Provincial Administrator Atty. Joel Montealto admitted that security protocols at the newly constructed facility were not yet fully implemented

Ten persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) escaped from the Batangas Provincial Jail in Ibaan on Monday morning while being e&corted to the public utility room.

Five of them were recaptured shortly after they boarded a passenger bus.

“A prison guard was e&corting the prisoners to the public utility room when one of the prisoners pointed an ice pick at him, took his service firearm and pointed at him, while other prisoners took advantage of the said situation,” according to information from the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A).

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“At that instance, the PDLs fled on foot towards the direction of Barangay Quilo, Ibaan, Batangas,” the report added.

In a separate statement, the Batangas provincial government confirmed that eight of the escaped PDLs have already been rearrested.

Governor Vilma Santos-Recto has ordered an investigation into the incident to determine how the inmates managed to flee.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Joel Montealto revealed that the provincial jail is a newly constructed facility, and just last June 24, a total of 792 male PDLs were transferred there.

He admitted that the security protocols at the new facility are not yet fully in place.

During a hot pursuit operation, authorities received a tip that five of the escapees had boarded a passenger bus. The bus was intercepted in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, leading to their immediate capture.

Authorities are continuing their manhunt for the remaining escapees as investigations into security lapses are underway.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh